Accessory system for vehicle

ABSTRACT

An accessory system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly and a display screen that is extendable and retractable relative to a casing. The display screen is slidably mounted at the casing and slidable in a direction generally parallel to a length axis of the reflective element between a non-use position, where the video display screen is positioned substantially within the casing, and a use position, where the video display screen is substantially extended from a side of the casing for viewing. The display screen may be automatically extended in response to an activating event. The accessory system may include an accessory module, which may comprise multiple sub-modules that may be selected to provide the desired accessory content to the accessory module.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority of U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/435,554, filed Dec. 20, 2002 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1040); Ser. No. 60/439,626, filed Jan. 13, 2003 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1061); Ser. No. 60/489,812, filed Jul. 24, 2003 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1100); and Ser. No. 60/492,225, filed Aug. 1, 2003 (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1107), which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of interiorrearview mirror systems for vehicles and, more particularly, to interiorrearview mirror systems which incorporate a video display screen. Thepresent invention also relates generally to vehicle accessory systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a video display screen at an interior rearviewmirror assembly of a vehicle, such as, for example, a video displayscreen of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,172 for REARVIEWMIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH UTILITY FUNCTIONS, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,300 forBLIND SPOT VIEWING SYSTEM, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference. It has also been suggested to provide a mirror or a displaywhich may be indexed in and out of a mirror case, such as from thebottom of the mirror case, such as also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,428,172, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

It is also known to provide overhead consoles at a roof region of avehicle. The consoles may include some accessories at the forward regionof the vehicle. Such consoles are typically connected to a vehiclewiring system to provide control or power to other accessories, such aslights or the like.

Drivers of vehicles, particularly larger vehicles, such as sport utilityvehicles (SUVs) and the like, may be faced with a reduced or obstructedfield of vision toward the rear and rearward of the vehicle as moreobjects, such as headrests and entertainment video screens, may block orobstruct a driver's rearward view, whether the driver uses the rearviewmirror or even if the driver turns around to generally face the rearwindow of the vehicle. Larger SUVs may have even less visibility to theimmediate rear of the vehicle. Various backup aids have been proposed toprovide a display of an image of the exterior scene rearward of thevehicle for viewing by the driver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an integrated overhead accessorysystem/module having one or more overhead cross car modules. Theintegrated overhead accessory system eases provision of and assembly orinstallation of accessories and/or accessory systems in a vehicle. Thepresent invention also provides an interior rearview mirror assemblyhaving a video display screen which may be extended and retracted viasliding movement laterally along or via one or more sliding members orrails positioned within the casing of the interior rearview mirrorassembly. As used herein, the term video display screen describes thevideo display screen and the associated components and circuitry. Thevideo display screen may slidably extend from a side of the mirrorassembly and toward the driver or passenger side of the vehicle alongthe rail or rails to an extended or use position, whereby the videodisplay screen is substantially extended from the mirror casing, andwhere the screen (and any image or icon or character or indicia or thelike displayed thereon) is viewable by a vehicle occupant, such as adriver or a front seat passenger of the vehicle. When not in use, thevideo display screen may be retracted to or stowed in a non-useposition, whereby the video display screen is positioned substantiallywithin the mirror casing and where the screen is preferably notviewable. The video display screen may thus be slidable in a directiongenerally parallel to the reflective element of the mirror assembly orgenerally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an interior rearviewmirror system for a vehicle comprises a casing, a reflective element,such as positioned at a bezel portion of the casing, and a video displayscreen slidably mounted at the casing. The video display screen isslidable in a direction generally parallel to a length axis of thereflective element between a retracted, non-use position, wherein thevideo display screen is positioned substantially within the casing, andan extended, use position, wherein the video display screen issubstantially extended from a side of the casing for viewing by anoccupant of the vehicle.

The video display screen may be mounted to at least one sliding memberwhich is slidable relative to the casing. The sliding member or membersmay be slidable along or within a sliding block mounted within thecasing. Optionally, the video display screen may be slidable along atleast one rail or track or guide positioned within the casing.Optionally, the video display screen may be pivotable about a pivotjoint or knuckle joint when extended to the use position.

The video display screen may be manually pulled or extended or retractedor may be electronically or automatically extended or retracted (such asby a motorized action or by a spring action). The display screen may beautomatically extended in response to a signal indicative of anactivating event, such as an actuation of a manual or user input, anengagement of the reverse gear of the vehicle, actuation of a backup aiddevice or system or other reverse viewing or imaging device or system,actuation of a cabin viewing device or system, such as a baby viewing orrear seat viewing device or system or the like, actuation of a videocommunication device or system, actuation of a navigation system of thevehicle and/or approach of a waypoint of a programmed route of thenavigation system and/or the like. The video display screen may also bemanually pushed or retracted to the non-use position or may beautomatically retracted in response to a signal indicative of adeactivating event, such as an actuation of a manual or user input, acuring or completion of the activating event or condition, adisengagement of the reverse gear of the vehicle, deactivation of abackup aid device or system or other reverse viewing or imaging deviceor system, deactivation of a cabin viewing device or system, such as ababy viewing or rear seat viewing device or system or the like,deactivation of a video communication device or system, deactivation ofa navigation system of the vehicle and/or passing of the waypoint of theprogrammed route and/or the like.

Optionally, the video display screen may be spring-loaded or biasedtoward the extended position and selectably securable at the non-useposition. When stowed in the non-use position, pressing laterally inwardon the video display screen may release or unlatch the video displayscreen such that the biasing member or spring urges or moves or biasesthe video display screen to the extended, use position. Pressinglaterally inward or pushing the video display screen into the mirrorcasing to the non-use position may then latch or secure the videodisplay screen in the non-use position substantially within the mirrorcasing.

The mirror assembly may be mounted at a windshield of the vehicle or atan overhead accessory console or accessory module of the vehicle.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an accessorysystem includes at least one overhead cross car module extending atleast partially across an upper portion of a vehicle and generallylaterally or transverse to the direction of travel of a vehicle. Thecross car module includes one or more electrical accessories and mayinclude or may be integrated with an interior rearview mirror assemblyof the vehicle. Optionally, the overhead accessory system may includetwo or more cross car modules, with one or more of the cross car modulesincluding an electrical accessory. The two or more cross car modules maybe electrically integrated or connected with one another, such thatelectrical connection to the vehicle wiring harness may be provided atone of the cross car modules, while the overhead accessory systemprovides electrical communication from the one cross car module to theother, such as via wires or the like extending along one or morelongitudinal bracing members or the like extending between andconnecting the two or more cross car modules.

Optionally, the accessory system may comprise a common accessory consolethat may receive one or more optional electronic sub-modules havingelectronic accessories or circuitry. The accessory console may alsoreceive or connect to a common enabling module or circuitry that mayinterface with and control the accessories or circuitry of thesub-modules and that may provide interfacing and sharing of accessoriesor circuitry of the sub-modules and of the vehicle. The sub-modules thusneed not include the interfacing circuitry and microprocessor controls,such that the sub-modules may be de-contented and the incremental costof each of the sub-modules may be reduced.

Therefore, the cross car modules or overhead accessory system of thepresent invention may be readily installed in a vehicle and electricallyconnected to the vehicle wiring at the vehicle assembly plant. Theoverhead accessory modules or cross car modules of the present inventionprovide for integration of the accessories incorporated within theaccessory system, such that the accessories may be readily installed toa vehicle and electrically connected to the vehicle wiring, controls,circuitry or the like via a single connection or connections at one areaof the vehicle, such as at the forward portion of the headliner of thevehicle or the like. The integrated overhead accessory modules may thusprovide for electrical connection and control of electronic accessoriesat, for example, the middle portion or rear portion of the vehicle cabinvia a connection at, for example, the forward portion of the vehiclecabin.

The present invention also provides a video display screen which isextendable from a side of a mirror casing for viewing by an occupant ofa vehicle. The video display screen may be positioned substantiallywithin the casing when not in use, and may be extended substantiallyoutward from the casing toward the driver or passenger side of thevehicle when viewing of the video display screen is desired. By slidablypositioning the video display screen within the mirror casing, thepresent invention provides for a large video display screen to enhanceviewing of the images displayed thereon by the driver or other occupantof the vehicle, while having a minimal affect on the size of the casing.The casing is formed to be wide enough to receive the video displayscreen therein, with the casing being at least as wide as the heightdimension of the video display screen.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an interior rearview mirrorassembly in accordance with the present invention, with a video displayscreen in its retracted position;

FIG. 2 is another front perspective view of the interior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 1, with the video display screen in its extendedposition;

FIG. 3 is another front perspective view of the interior rearview mirrorassembly of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the video display screen in its extendedposition;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the interior rearview mirrorassembly, with the video display screen in its retracted position;

FIG. 5 is another rear perspective view similar to FIG. 4, with thevideo display screen in its extended position;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of an interior rearview mirror assembly inaccordance with the present invention, with the video display screen inits retracted position;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the interior rearview mirror assembly ofFIG. 6, with the video display screen in its extended position;

FIG. 8 is rear elevation of the interior rearview mirror assembly ofFIGS. 6 and 7, with the video display screen partially extended;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the interior rearview mirror assembly of FIGS.6-8, with the video display screen partially extended;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the interior rearview mirror assembly ofFIGS. 6-9, with the video display screen in its retracted position andwith the reflective element and bezel portion partially removed to showadditional details;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation of the interior rearview mirror assembly ofFIGS. 6-10, with the video display screen partially extended and withthe reflective element and bezel portion partially removed to showadditional details;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of a video display screen actuator inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation of the video display screen actuator of FIG.12;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are perspective views of another interior rearviewmirror assembly incorporating a video display screen in accordance withthe present invention;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views of another interior rearviewmirror assembly incorporating a video display screen in accordance withthe present invention;

FIGS. 16A-C are perspective views of another interior rearview mirrorassembly incorporating a video display screen in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another interior rearview mirrorassembly in accordance with the present invention, with the mirrorassembly mounted to an overhead accessory system or module of thepresent invention;

FIG. 18 is another perspective view of the interior rearview mirrorassembly and overhead accessory system of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an overhead accessory system havingmultiple integrated cross car console modules in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of another interior rearview mirrorassembly and overhead accessory system in accordance with the presentinvention, with the video display screen in its extended position;

FIG. 21 is a side elevation of the interior rearview mirror assembly andoverhead accessory system of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a rear perspective view of the interior rearview mirrorassembly and overhead accessory system of FIGS. 20 and 21;

FIG. 23 is a front perspective view of another interior rearview mirrorassembly and overhead accessory system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another interior rearview mirrorassembly and overhead console or accessory system in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 25 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of the interiorrearview mirror assembly and overhead console of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a side elevation and partial sectional view similar to FIG.25, showing a large ball and socket connection of the mirror assembly tothe overhead console;

FIG. 27 is a front perspective view of another overhead accessory systemin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a plan view of a vehicle incorporating the overhead accessorysystem of FIG. 27, with an enlarged schematic of the sub-modulesassociated with the overhead accessory system;

FIG. 29 is a sectional view of the overhead accessory system taken alongthe line XXIX-XXIX in FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a sub-module for the overhead accessorysystem of FIGS. 27-29;

FIG. 31 is a schematic of the wiring of the overhead accessory system ofFIGS. 27-30;

FIG. 32 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of a modularoverhead accessory system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a plan view of the modular overhead accessory system of FIG.32;

FIG. 34 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of anothermodular overhead accessory system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 35 is an enlarged sectional view of the trim strip around themodular overhead accessory system of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of anothermodular overhead accessory system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 37 is a plan view of the modular overhead accessory system of FIG.36;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of an accessory module for receiving acellular phone or the like in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 39 is a forward facing view of the accessory module of FIG. 38,with a phone received in the module;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the accessory module of FIGS. 38 and39, with an interior rearview mirror assembly installed adjacent to theaccessory module;

FIG. 41 is another perspective view of the accessory module and interiorrearview mirror assembly of FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is a plan view of a vehicle incorporating a rear imaging systemin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of a flip down video screen modulesuitable for use with the overhead accessory system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 44A is a top plan view of a dual screen video screen modulesuitable for use with the overhead accessory system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 44B is a front elevation of the dual screen video screen module ofFIG. 44A, showing a forward facing video screen for viewing by thedriver of the vehicle;

FIG. 44C is a side elevation of the dual screen video screen module ofFIGS. 44A and 44B; and

FIG. 44D is a rear elevation of the dual screen video screen module ofFIGS. 44A-C, showing a rearward facing video screen for viewing by therear passengers of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an interior rearview mirror assembly 10 for a vehicle includesa casing 12, a bezel portion 14 and a reflective element 16 positionedat and at least partially within the casing and/or bezel portion (FIGS.1-3). Mirror assembly 10 includes a video display screen device 18,which is movably or slidably mounted at least partially within casing 12and movable or slidable between a retracted or stored or non-useposition (as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 10) and an extended or useposition (as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7). Video display screen device18 includes a video display screen 20 mounted on a frame or support 22,which in turn is mounted at or positioned at one or more slide members24 (FIGS. 10 and 11) at or within casing 12. Video display screen 20 isoperable to display information or images for viewing by the driver orother occupant or occupants of the vehicle when video display screendevice 18 is in its extended position, as discussed below. The termvideo display screen is used herein to describe the video display screenand any components and circuitry associated with the video displayscreen which are generally contained at or within the frame or support22.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 11, casing 12 of mirrorassembly 10 is wide enough to allow frame 22 and video display screen 20to slide therewithin and generally along and parallel to and behind thereflective element 16, such that the video display screen 20 is slidablein a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of thevehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle. As shown inFIG. 4, mirror reflective element 16 consists of a length dimensionalong its length axis 40 and a width dimension along its width axis 42.The length dimension is typically at least approximately 5.5 inches,more preferably at least approximately 7.5 inches, and most preferablyat least approximately 9.5 inches, while the width dimension ispreferably at least approximately two inches, more preferably at leastapproximately 2.5 inches, and most preferably at least approximatelythree inches, and is selected to allow sufficient clearance for lateralmovement of the video display screen therewithin. Preferably, the ratioof the length dimension to the width dimension is at least two, and morepreferably at least three.

Because the video display screen is positioned within the mirror casingand is slidable along the length axis and outward from a side of themirror casing, the video display screen may comprise a large,rectangular-shaped video display screen to enhance viewing of the videodisplay screen by the driver or occupant of the vehicle. The mirrorcasing is formed to be at least as wide or tall as the height dimensionof the video display screen. The width of the video display screen maybe selected depending on the desired size of the viewing area and on thelateral space within the associated mirror casing. Preferably, the videodisplay screen is a least approximately two inches wide, more preferablyat least approximately 2.5 inches wide, and most preferably at leastapproximately three inches wide. The video display screen thus may fitor slide laterally within the mirror casing and may provide an increasedviewing area without requiring a substantial increase to the size of themirror casing.

Although shown and described as slidably extending from a side orportion of an interior rearview mirror assembly, the display screen ofthe present invention may extend from a portion of the mirror assemblyelsewhere at or on the mirror assembly, or from a portion of the supportstructure of the mirror assembly (such as in a single ball mountingmember arrangement), such as a support structure of the types describedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,953, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference. Optionally, the display screen device of the presentinvention may be positioned at or at least partially within a casing orhousing of a windshield electronics module or accessory module, such asthose described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/355,454, filedJan. 31, 2003 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1050); and/or Ser. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001,entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE(Attorney Docket DON01 P-869), which are hereby incorporated herein byreference, or an overhead console or module or the like, such as thosedescribed below with respect to FIGS. 17-41. The display screen mayextend from a portion or side of the accessory module or the like, ormay extend from another portion of the accessory module or the like, orfrom a support structure of the accessory module or the like, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention.

Frame 22 of video display screen device 18 substantially surrounds andencases video display screen 20 and may include an outer graspingportion or end portion 22 a. End portion 22 a and casing 12 may becorrespondingly formed such that end portion 22 a generally nestspartially within casing 12 when video display screen device 18 is in itsretracted position. Also, end portion 22 a may be formed to generallycorrespond with the exterior surface of casing 12, such that end portion22 a may provide a generally flush, uniform appearance to the side ofthe mirror casing when the device is fully retracted. As best seen inFIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 9, end portion 22 a may include a grasping portion orlip 22 b which extends rearward from video display screen device 18 toprovide a handle or grasping surface for a user of video display screendevice 18 to grasp and pull to manually pull frame 22 and video displayscreen 20 outward from casing 12 to the extended position. Optionally,casing 12 may further include a recessed or cut away area 12 a (FIG. 1)at the side of the casing to facilitate grasping of the end portion 22 aof frame 22, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Video display screen 20 may be slidable or extendable/retractable viasliding movement of a rail or guide or track or the like relative to areceiving block or guide or the like that slidably receives or guidesthe rail or guide or track or the like as the display screen extends andretracts relative to the mirror casing. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIGS. 10 and 11, video display screen device 18 includes a sliding block26 positioned within casing 12 to facilitate sliding movement of frame22 and video display screen 20 relative to casing 12. Sliding block 26may comprise a plastic or polymeric material and is configured toslidably or movably receive one or more slide members or rails or guidesor tracks 24 therethrough. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 10 and11, the sliding members 24 may comprise generally cylindrical bars orrods which are fixedly secured to frame or support 22 and are slidablerelative to sliding block 26 to facilitate sliding movement of frame 22and video display screen 20 relative to sliding block 26 and casing 12.The sliding members 24 are positioned generally parallel to thereflective element 16 of the mirror assembly 10 for sliding orconduiting or conveying the video display screen 20 and frame 22generally parallel to the reflective element and, thus, generallytransverse to the longitudinal axis or direction of the vehicle when themirror assembly 10 is mounted to the vehicle. Although shown anddescribed as being fixedly mounted to one or more sliding rods ormembers, the frame or support of the video display screen device mayalternately be slidably mounted to one or more rods or members or railsor tracks or the like which are generally fixedly positioned along themirror casing, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Thedisplay screen and frame may be manually movable along the rods ormembers or may be electronically driven or moved via a drive motor orthe like, as discussed below. Optionally, the display screen and framemay be movable or slidable or extendable/retractable via a movingmechanism or drive mechanism utilizing aspects disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 6,325,518 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/968,523, filedOct. 1, 2001 by Whitehead et al. for EXTENDABLE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRRORASSEMBLY (Attorney Docket DON01 P-932), which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference. The cable or wire that feeds the display screen,such as to provide power and/or control to the display screen, may beguided to provide corresponding extension and retraction of thecable/wire or the like in tandem with the display screen, or theelectrical connection may be made via sliding electrical contact betweenthe rails or guides or the like of the sliding or moving mechanism,without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Optionally, as shown in phantom in FIG. 9, frame 22 may be pivotableabout a generally vertical pivot axis or knuckle joint 28 or the likewhen video display screen device 18 is in its fully extended position(such as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7). The frame 22 may be pivoted orcanted about the pivot axis in either direction to adjust a viewingangle of the video display screen 20 to provide optimal viewing of thescreen by the driver or other occupant of the vehicle. As can be seenwith reference to FIG. 9, the casing 12 may limit or substantiallypreclude pivotal movement of frame 22 and video display screen 20 untilframe 22 and video display screen 20 are in their fully extendedposition with the pivot joint 28 being positioned outward or at theexterior of casing 12. Alternately, frame 22 may be non-pivotable orfixed, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Video display screen 20 may comprise any type of video screen and isoperable to display images in response to an input or signal from acontrol or imaging system. For example, the video display screen maycomprise a multi-pixel liquid crystal display (LCD), preferably a thinfilm transistor multi-pixel liquid crystal display, or the screen maycomprise a multi-pixel organic electroluminescent display or amulti-pixel light emitting diode (LED), such as an organic lightemitting diode (OLED) or inorganic light emitting diode display or thelike, or a passive reflective and/or backlit pixelated display, or anelectroluminescent (EL) 20 display, or a vacuum fluorescent (VF) displayor the like. For example, video display screen 20 may comprise a videoscreen of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,428,172 and 6,420,975,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/585,379, filed Jun. 1, 2000by Hutzel et al. for REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH UTILITY FUNCTIONS(Attorney Docket DON01 P-817); Ser. No. 10/207,291, filed Jul. 29, 2002by Hutzel et al. for REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH UTILITY FUNCTIONS(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1010); Ser. No. 10/307,929, filed Dec. 2, 2002by Hutzel et al. for AN INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM INCLUDING APENDENT ACCESSORY (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1052); and/or Ser. No.09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001, entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMSINCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-869), whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, the displayscreen device may provide a three dimensional aspect to the informationbeing displayed.

Video display screen device 18 may be in communication with or mayreceive an input or signal from a corresponding imaging sensor or cameraor imaging system and may display the image or images provided by theinput or signal on the video display screen 20. As shown in FIG. 11,video display screen device 18 or an imaging or vision system of thevehicle may include a control 30, which is in communication with videodisplay screen 20 via an electrical connector or wiring or cable 32,such as a ribbon cable, a coiled or spiral cord, a sliding electricalcontact or the like, which preferably is extendable and retractable orbendable or foldable or slidable to allow for extension and retractionof the video display screen relative to the control.

Control 30 is operable to control video display screen 20 in response toan input or signal, such as a signal received from one or more camerasor image sensors of the vehicle, such as a video camera or sensor, suchas a CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or the like, such as thetypes disclosed in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677;5,760,962; 6,097,023 and 5,796,094, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference, or from one or more imaging systems of the vehicle, suchas a reverse or backup aid system, such as a rearwardly directed vehiclevision system utilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,550,677; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,396,397; and/or 6,498,620,and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/199,907, filed Nov. 25,1998 by Bos et al. for WIDE ANGLE IMAGE CAPTURE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE(Attorney Docket DON01 P-676); and Ser. No. 10/010,862, filed Dec. 6,2001 by Bos for PLASTIC LENS SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-954), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference,a trailer hitching aid or tow check system, such as the type disclosedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/418,486, filed Apr. 18, 2003 byMcMahon et al. for VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM (Attorney Docket DON01P-1070), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, a cabinviewing device or system, such as a baby viewing or rear seat viewingcamera or device or system or the like, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,877,897 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/793,002, filedFeb. 26, 2001, entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING AN ACCESSORYMODULE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-869), which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference, a video communication device or system, such asdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26,2001, entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE(Attorney Docket DON01 P-869), which is hereby incorporated herein byreference, and/or the like. Optionally, the video display screen mayalso or otherwise serve as a screen for a navigation system of thevehicle or the like, such as a GPS navigation system, such as a knownnavigation system or such as a navigations system of the type discussedbelow. The display screen may be operable to display video images and/ormay display icons, characters, letters, text or other indicia, and mayprovide a menu driven display and control for the navigation system orthe like (as discussed below), without affecting the scope of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, video display screen device 18 may include anadjustment mechanism or dial 34 to adjust the intensity or brightness ofthe video display screen 20. Optionally, the intensity or brightness ofthe video display screen may be automatically adjusted in response to anambient light sensor or glare detector, such as a sensor of the displayscreen device, or of the interior rearview mirror assembly or vehicle orof a console or module or the like, such as the types disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,793,690 and/or 5,193,029, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention. In applications where the display screen device isimplemented with an electro-optic or electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement assembly, the display screen device may be automaticallyadjusted in response to the ambient light sensor or glare detectorassociated with the electro-optic or electrochromic circuitry or system.The display intensity of the display screen may be adjusted in responseto the photo sensor or light sensor, and may be increased during daytimelighting conditions and reduced at dusk or during nighttime lightingconditions. The intensity of the display may be substantiallycontinuously adjusted or may be adjusted intermittently or in steps inresponse to the light sensor or sensors, such as by utilizing aspects ofthe displays described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,416,313 and 5,285,060, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference, or may be adjusted when thedisplay screen is activated or extended.

Optionally, the display screen may include contrast enhancement oranti-glare coating or means, such as described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001, entitled VIDEOMIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney Docket DON01P-869), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. For example,the display screen may include polarization means or filters orcoatings, such as known in the art, to enhance visibility of the displayduring high ambient light levels, such as may be encountered on a sunnyday. Optionally, the display screen may include other anti-glare coatingor other anti-glare means, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention.

Because the video display screen 20 may be pulled or moved near or intothe driver's forward field of view (if it extends toward the driver'sside of the vehicle), and thus may interfere with the driver's forwardvision, when the display screen is in the extended position, videodisplay screen device 18 is preferably occasionally extended and/oractivated for viewing, and retracted to the non-use position when not inuse. Frame 22 and video display screen 20 may be manually pulled to theextended, use position by the driver or occupant of the vehicle, and maybe manually pushed back into the retracted, non-use position when thedesired viewing is completed. The video display screen and/or associatedimaging device or system may be actuated in response to the frame andvideo display screen being moved to the extended position or may beactuated via one or more user actuatable controls or buttons or the likeon the frame of the video display screen device or elsewhere on themirror assembly or vehicle, or in response to other types of activatingevents, such as discussed below.

Optionally, the frame and video display screen may be spring-loaded orbiased or spring actuated, whereby a spring or other biasing member mayfunction to bias or urge or assist the frame and screen toward theextended position. In such an application, the spring or biasing membermay be overcome by pushing the frame into the mirror casing to thenon-use position, whereby a latch mechanism or the like may retain theframe in the non-use position. The frame may then be pressed inward torelease the latch and to allow the biasing member or spring to move orurge or assist the frame and video display screen to the extendedposition. Such mechanisms are conventional and well known.

Optionally, frame 22 and video display screen 20 may be extendedelectronically, such as via a driving device or mechanism (not shown),such as via a linear actuator, a solenoid device, a rack and piniondevice, an electrical drive motor or actuator, such as the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,116,743 and/or 6,390,635, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference, a non-armature electrical motor, ashape memory alloy (SMA) device, a NanoMuscle™ device, an electricallyinduced stress-strain device or actuator, a bio-material and/or thelike.

For example, and as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a video display screendevice 18′ may include a frame 22′ that is extendable and retractablefrom a base portion 44. Base portion 44 may be mountable inside a mirrorhousing or casing 12′, such that extension and retraction of displayscreen frame 22′ relative to base portion 44 causes extension andretraction of the frame 22′ and the display screen (not shown in FIGS.12 and 13) relative to mirror casing 12′, as discussed above. Baseportion 44 may be fixedly secured within the mirror assembly and mayhave upper and lower track portions 45 a, which slidably engagecorresponding upper and lower track portions 45 b of frame 22′, suchthat Frame 22′ may slide along the track portions 45 a to extend andretract relative to base portion 44. The track portions 45 a, 45 bfunction to maintain alignment of the frame and display screen as itmoves relative to the base portion and to maintain proper alignment andengagement of the rack and pinion mechanism 46, discussed below.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13, video display screendevice 18′ includes a belt drive mechanism 47 that is operable to movethe frame 22′ relative to base portion 44 via a rack and pinionmechanism 46. Rack and pinion mechanism 46 includes a rod or member 24′extending from frame 22′ and generally along base portion 44. Rod 24′includes a plurality of notches or teeth 24 a′ for engagingcorresponding teeth 46 b of a sprocket or gear member or pinion 46 a.Pinion 46 a is rotatably mounted to base portion 44, such that rotationof pinion 46 a causes a corresponding translational movement of rod 24′relative to pinion 46 a and base portion 44. The rack and pinionmechanism 46 thus provides translational movement of frame 22′ as therod 24′ is moved or as pinion 46 a is rotated.

The belt drive mechanism 47 includes a drive motor 47 a that is mountedto base portion 44 and that is operable to rotatably drive a pulley 47b, which in turn drives a belt or band 47 c to rotate a second pulley 47d. Second pulley 47 d is mounted to or secured to pinion 46 a, such thatrotational driving by motor 47 a causes rotation of pinion 46 a, whichin turn causes translational movement of rod 24′ and frame 22′ and thedisplay screen relative to base portion 44. The display screen deviceand/or mirror assembly may include or utilize mechanical movement meansand/or sound dampening means to ensure quiet, preferably near silent orsilent, extension/retraction of the display screen. Optionally, thedrive mechanism may deliver a slight sound to provide the driver with acognizant awareness (in addition to the visible cue or prompt) of theextension/retraction of the display screen.

The frame and the video display screen thus may be extended andretracted via belt drive mechanism 47 and rack and pinion mechanism 46.The belt drive mechanism provides a smooth drive movement and mayprovide reduced noise to the drive mechanism. The rack and pinionarrangement or mechanism enables the powered or driven mechanism to bemanually overridden by pulling or pushing the display screen in thedesired direction (which may cause the belt to slip on the pulleys ifthe motor is not operating). Such a manual override may be desired toallow the display screen to be operated without the electric drive incase of failure of the drive motor. Optionally, the drive system mayinclude sensors for sensing initial movement of the video display screenin either direction, whereby the drive motor may be actuated to move thedisplay screen in response to detection of such initial movement. Forexample, a sensor may detect an initial inward movement of the displayscreen, such that a small push of the extended display screen toward themirror assembly may turn on the electric drive which then may retractthe display screen.

As can be seen with reference to FIG. 12, the frame and the videodisplay screen may extend toward the passenger side of the vehicle.Because the mirror assembly is typically angled or canted toward thedriver of the vehicle (such as at an angle of approximately 22 degreesfrom a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle) to providethe driver with the appropriate or desired rearward field of view, it isdesirable and preferable to have the video display screen slide outwardtoward the passenger side of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 12. Thedisplay screen thus may extend toward the passenger side of the mirrorand laterally therefrom in a motion, such as a sliding motion, that isparallel to the length axis of the reflective element. Because themirror assembly is angled toward the driver of the vehicle, thepassenger side video display screen may be readily viewable by thedriver of the vehicle when it is extended from the mirror assembly.Optionally, the passenger side video display screen may be pivotablerelative to the mirror casing when it is fully extended to further anglethe video display screen toward the driver to enhance (the viewing ofthe video display screen.

Optionally, and alternately, for example, a conventional solenoid may beused for a drive motor. Preferably, however, particularly forsubstantially silent operation, a shape memory alloy device orelectrically induced stress-strain actuator or the like may beimplemented, such as a NanoMuscle™ actuator, such as a 70 gram HighSpeed/High Efficiency Linear Actuator, a 125 gram High Speed/HighEfficiency Linear Actuator, or a 195 gram High Speed/High EfficiencyLinear Actuator, all of which are commercially available fromNanoMuscle, Inc. of Antioch, Cal. Such electrically inducedstress-strain linear actuators comprise a selection and/or combinationof metallic elements, typically bimetallic elements, such as bimetallicalloys, which may contract in response to electrical actuation and mayextend or return to their original state when the electrical actuationis removed. More particularly, such electrically induced stress-strainactuator, such as the NanoMuscle™ actuator or the like, contracts inresponse to one or more electrically resistive shape memory alloy wirescontracting as they are heated with application of a suitable voltage.Often such linear actuators may incorporate a spring or other biasingmember or return force device or mechanism to urge or assist theactuator to its original, non-contracted state when the electricalactuation is removed. The actuator may be mounted at the mirror assemblysuch that contraction of the actuator results in a correspondingretraction of the frame and video display screen to the retracted,non-use position or a corresponding extension of the frame and videodisplay screen to the extended, use position, depending on theapplication of the actuator. Other such contracting or extending devicesmay be implemented, and may comprise metallic or polymeric components,without affecting the scope of the present invention. Such shape memoryalloy devices thus provide substantially silent operation, since thereis substantially no parts or gears or the like moving relative to oneanother during operation. It is further envisioned that pivotal movementof the video display screen about a pivot axis or joint, as discussedabove, may be selectably electronically controlled via a rotationaldrive motor or the like, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 14-16, the video display screenmay be movable or pivotable between a stored or non-use position at orwithin the mirror casing and an extended or use position where the videodisplay screen is moved to a viewable position for viewing by the driverof occupant of the vehicle. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 14A and14B, a video display screen device 18″ may include a frame 22″ and adisplay screen 20″ that are pivotally mounted to the casing 12″ of amirror assembly 10″. Frame 22″ and display screen 20″ may be pivotableabout a pivot axis 19 between a stored or non-use position, where thedisplay screen is at or within the mirror casing 12″ (as shown in FIG.14A), and a use position, where display screen 20″ is moved outward frommirror casing 12″ and is viewable by the driver or occupant of thevehicle (as shown in FIG. 14B). As can be seen in FIG. 14A, frame 22″may be formed to define an exterior corner or rear portion of casing12″, such that mirror assembly 10″ provides a generally uniform exteriorcasing when display screen 20″ is pivoted to its non-use position.Alternately, and as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, a video display screendevice 18′″ may include a frame 22′″ and display screen 20′″ that arepivotally mounted to casing 12′″ at a hinge 19″ and pivotable about agenerally vertical pivot axis 19 a″ between the non-use position (FIG.15A) and the use position (FIG. 15B). In such an embodiment, displayscreen 20′″ may be positioned at the rear of casing 12′″ when displayscreen 20′″ and frame 22′″ are pivoted to their non-use position (FIG.15A). Alternately, a video display screen device 18″″ may include aframe 22″″ and display screen 20″″ that are pivotally mounted to casing12″″ of mirror assembly 10″″ via apivot arm or member 19″. Pivot arm 19″may be pivotally mounted to casing 12″″ and may be pivotable relative tocasing 12″″ about a first generally vertical pivot axis 19 a″, whileframe 22″″ of display screen device 18″″ may be pivotally mounted topivot arm 19″ and may be pivotable relative to pivot arm 19″ about asecond generally vertical pivot axis 19 b″. Display screen 20″″ andframe 22″″ thus may be pivoted about a pair of axes 19 a″, 19 b″ betweenthe non-use position (FIG. 16A) and the use position (FIG. 16C). As canbe seen with reference to FIG. 16B, frame 22″″ and display screen 20″″may be pivoted about pivot axis 19 b″, while pivot arm 19″ is pivoted asimilar or same amount about pivot axis 19 a″, such that display screen20″″ may remain facing in generally the same direction as the mirrorreflective element 16″″ throughout the range of pivotal movement oradjustment. Also, the pivot arm may allow the display screen to beadjusted relative to the pivot arm to provide any desired viewing angleof the display screen when the display screen is extended or moved toits use position. The pivot arm may comprise an upper and/or lower pivotarm or may comprise a pair of upper and/or lower pivot arms or otherpivot arm arrangements to facilitate pivotal movement or adjustment ofthe video display screen relative to the mirror casing. The frames anddisplay screens may be manually pivoted or automatically orelectronically pivoted between the use and non-use positions. Videodisplay screen devices 18″, 18′″, 18″″ and mirror assembly 10″, 10′″,10″″ may otherwise be substantially similar to the video display screendevices and mirror assemblies discussed above with respect to FIGS.1-13, such that a detailed discussion of the display screen devices andmirror assemblies will not be repeated herein. The display screendevices may be positioned at the driver or passenger side of the mirrorassembly, without affecting the scope of the present invention. However,it is preferable to have the display screen positioned at, and to extendoutward when extended from the passenger side of the rearview mirrorassembly when the rearview mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle.

The sliding or pivotal or other movement of the frame and display screenmay selectably occur in response to a manual or user input, such asactuation of a user interface control or button (not shown) at theinterior rearview mirror assembly or a voice command or input, or thedisplay screen may extend automatically, such as in response to anotheractivating event or triggering event or other dynamic event or events.For example, the display screen may be automatically extended andactivated in response to an engagement of the reverse gear of thevehicle or actuation of a backup aid or other reverse viewing system,such as a reverse viewing system utilizing principles disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,396,397; and/or6,498,620, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/199,907, filedNov. 25, 1998 by Bos et al. for WIDE ANGLE IMAGE CAPTURE SYSTEM FORVEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-676); and/or Ser. No. 10/010,862, filedDec. 6, 2001 by Bos for PLASTIC LENS SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM(Attorney Docket DON01 P-954), and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/418,486, filed Apr. 18, 2003 by McMahon et al. for VEHICLE IMAGINGSYSTEM (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1070), which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference, actuation of a cabin viewing device or system, suchas a baby viewing or rear seat viewing device or system or the like,such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,897 and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001, entitledVIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney DoclcetDON01 P-869), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference,actuation of a video communication device or system, such as a videocommunication device of the types disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001, entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMSINCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-869), whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference, actuation of other telephoneor communication systems (where the display screen may extend to displaytelephone numbers or recently called numbers or other information or thelike), actuation of a navigation system of the vehicle, such as anavigation system of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,464, andU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 byWeller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1076); Ser. No. 10/287,178, filed Nov. 4, 2002 byMcCarthy et al. for NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1051); Ser. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Taylor et al.for VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1103); and Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1074), which are hereby incorporated herein byreference, and such as discussed below, a vehicle system or devicestatus or warning system (where the display screen may be automaticallyextended to display a warning or alert to the driver in response to acondition being detected, such as the driver's seatbelt being unfastened(and optionally with the vehicle being in gear or moving or the like), ahigh oil temperature or pressure, a low tire pressure (such as inresponse to a tire pressure management system (TPMS), such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,989; 6,445,287; and/or 6,472,979,and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/232,122, filed Aug. 30,2002 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1003); and Ser. No. 10/279,059, filed Oct.23, 2002 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1027), which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference), a low fuel level and/or the like), or any otheractivating event or triggering event or condition or detection ordynamic event and/or the like, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention. The outward movement or extension of the displayscreen not only provides the display of information at a position thatis readily viewable by the driver of the vehicle, but the outwardmovement of the display screen also provides a visual cue or prompt, andoptionally an audible sound associatable with a sliding motion, to catchthe driver's attention and reinforce viewing of the display screen sothat the driver can readily view the information being displayed at thedisplay screen. Similarly, the video display screen may be automaticallyretracted to the non-use position in response to a manual or user input,or in response to completion of or curing of the activating ortriggering event or deactivation of the system or device associated withthe activating or triggering event, such as shifting of the vehicle outof reverse, deactivation of a rearward viewing device or system,deactivation of a cabin viewing device or system, deactivation of avideo communication device or system or disconnection of the telephoneconnection or conversation, deactivation of a navigation system of thevehicle or arrival at a particular waypoint or destination (as discussedbelow), or a correction or curing of the system condition, such asfastening of the seatbelt, and/or the like.

The display screen may be manually moved to its retracted position whenthe driver no longer wants to view the screen, even if the activatingevent has not yet completed. This allows the driver to override theautomatic extension and retraction, such as when the driver no longerwants to view the information relating to the activating event, withoutdisturbing or adversely affecting the automatic extension controls andcomponents. For example, if the driver chooses to ignore a warning thatthe tire pressure is low (or other warning or information display or thelike), the driver may manually move the display screen to its retractedposition. The manual movement may be accomplished via pushing thedisplay screen into the mirror assembly, or pressing or actuating a userinput or button or the like to cause the retraction of the displayscreen, or providing a voice command to the system to cause theretraction/override of the display screen device. Optionally, the drivesystem of the display screen device may include sensors for sensinginitial movement of the display screen in either direction, whereby thedrive motor or the like may be actuated to move the display screen inresponse to detection of such initial movement. For example, a sensormay detect an initial inward or outward movement of the display screen,such that a small push or pull of the display screen may activate theelectronic drive motor or system which then retracts or extends thedisplay screen.

Optionally, the display screen may be manually extended by the driver oroccupant of the vehicle even if a dynamic or activating or triggeringevent has not occurred. The driver may then select a desired function ofthe display screen when it is extended. Optionally, the display screenmay display a menu for the driver to select from when the display screenis extended manually. The menu or menus may be in the form of textdisplays, graphic displays, video displays, iconistic displays, indiciadisplays and/or the like. The driver may then select from the menu bytouching or actuating a user input or by providing a voice command orthe like to cause the display screen to display information or video orthe like pertaining to the selected function or system or accessory. Forexample, the driver may cause the display screen to display the rearvision system video or images even though the vehicle is not in reverseby manually extending the display screen and manually selecting the rearimage display function. The manual extension and activation may beaccomplished by manually pulling or moving the display screen or byactuating a user input or by providing a voice command (such as “open”or “extend”) or the like.

The video display screen thus may be operable to automatically ormanually extend to display information or video pertaining to a selectedor triggering event or function. For example, video display screen 20may be in communication with a camera or imaging sensor or systemoperable to capture images of an area rearward of the vehicle. Videodisplay screen 20 may then be extended in response to engagement of thereverse gear of the vehicle or activation of the rearward viewing deviceor system, where the video display screen 20 may be operable to displayimages representative of the scene and events occurring rearward of thevehicle, such that the driver may view the video display screen as thevehicle is reversed. When the vehicle is shifted out of reverse, thevideo display screen may be automatically retracted to its non-useposition. As discussed above, frame 22 and video display screen 20 maybe extended and retracted via a linear actuator, a solenoid device, arack and pinion device, an electrical drive motor, a non-armatureelectrical motor, a shape memory alloy device, a NanoMuscle™ device, anelectrically induced stress-strain device, a bio-material and/or thelike, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Optionally,the video display screen and frame may be manually pulled from themirror casing, but the video display screen device may limit orsubstantially preclude sliding movement of the frame toward the extendedposition unless the vehicle is shifted into the reverse gear or someother activating event occurs, such as actuation of a rearward viewingdevice or system, actuation of a cabin viewing device or system, such asa baby viewing or rear seat viewing device or system or the like,actuation of a video communication device or system, actuation of anavigation system of the vehicle and/or the like, without affecting thescope of the present invention. The manual operation of the videodisplay screen device may override the automatic extension andretraction of the display screen without adversely affecting theautomatic or electronic controls or devices or systems.

It is further envisioned that the control system of the display devicemay extend and retract the display screen in response to multipleactivating or triggering events or a hierarchy of events, and mayoperate in a hierarchical manner where certain events control oroverride other events. The display screen device may be linked to thetriggering event and thus may be operable to display information orvideo images or the like pertaining to the system or device or functionassociated with the activating or triggering event. For example, whenthe reverse gear is engaged, the display screen may extend automaticallyand display the captured images or video of the scene rearward of thevehicle (as captured by a video camera or imaging sensor or the like atthe rear portion of the vehicle). If, on the other hand, a useractivates a phone system or communication system, such as by pressing abutton or actuating an input or providing a voice command or the like,the display screen may extend and may display useful information, suchas menus to select from or telephone numbers (such as a directory or alist or recently called numbers) or the like, to the user of thecommunication system. Optionally, if a telephone call is received by thetelephone or communication system, the display screen may extend todisplay a caller identification function or other pertinent informationor the like or video images of the caller (if associated with a videocommunication system) or the like to the driver or user.

In situations where the display screen is already extended anddisplaying information to the driver pertaining to an activating event,such as, for example, displaying the rear seat area of the vehicle whena cabin monitor is activated, the display screen may change or adjust orreconfigure the display to correspond to another activating event, suchas, for example, a warning or alert that the vehicle is low on fuel orthe like. The hierarchy of activating events may determine which eventsmay override other events, such that an important event, such as a rearvision system display while the vehicle is in reverse, is not overriddenby an event that can wait until after the first event (backing up thevehicle) is completed, such as a navigational instruction pertaining tothe vehicle navigation system or other information or video. The displayscreen device thus may comprise a dynamic extension system thatautomatically extends the display screen in response to dynamic eventsor functions. However, the driver or occupant of the vehicle mayoverride the event hierarchy at any time by manually activating anotherone of the triggering events or systems or functions. For example, ifthe driver is backing up the vehicle, but is not using the rear visionsystem display, the driver or another occupant may manually activate thenavigation system or telephone system or cabin monitoring system or thelike to change the display to correspond to the newly activated system.The manual override may be accomplished via manual actuation of a userinput or the like or via a voice command or the like.

As described above, the display screen may be extended in response to anactivating event associated with a vehicle navigation system and/or apoint of interest compass system, such as navigation systems/compasssystems of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,464, and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller etal. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1076); Ser. No. 10/287,178, filed Nov. 4, 2002 by McCarthy etal. for NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1051);Ser. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Taylor et al. for VEHICLENAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1103); and Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1074), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.In such applications, the display screen may be extended to displaynavigational information, such as driving instructions or compassheading or a map or the like, to the driver of the vehicle as the drivernegotiates a programmed or desired route. The display screen may beextended and activated to display the instructions and/or compassheading and/or map in accordance with the geographical position of thevehicle, such as detected by an in-vehicle or vehicle-based navigationsystem detector, such as a global positioning system (GPS) or circuitryand/or the like. The vehicular global positioning system may comprise anin-vehicle GPS antenna and a GPS receiver/signal processor that receivesa satellite communication to determine the geographic location of thevehicle, as is known in the art. Such global positioning systemreceivers/processors, sometimes referred to as a GPS chip set, areavailable from various suppliers, such as, for example, Motorola ofSchaumburg, Ill. and Trimble Navigation of Sunnyvale, Calif. The displayscreen thus may be extended and activated as the vehicle approaches awaypoint or milestone in the programmed route of the vehicle navigationsystem. The display screen thus not only provides the instructionsand/or map to the driver, but the extension of the display screenprovides a visual cue or prompt to alert the driver or catch thedriver's attention so that the driver knows to look at the screen to getthe next instruction at an appropriate time before the vehicle arrivesat the waypoint or milestone. The display screen may then retract to itsretracted position after the vehicle arrives at the next waypoint ormilestone. The global positioning system thus may determine when thegeographic position of the vehicle approaches a waypoint and may thentrigger extension of the display in conjunction with the vehiclenavigation system or in conjunction with a vehicle database ornavigation system database.

For example, a user or driver may enter a desired destination into thenavigational system and the navigational system may determine anappropriate route for the vehicle to travel from its initial or currentlocation until it arrives at the desired destination. As is known in theart, the route may be determined to provide a shortest distance route orquickest route or may be determined in accordance with other parametersas may be selected by the user. When the vehicle begins the journey, thedisplay screen may extend and activate to display a first instruction orset of instructions or map, such as “Take Oak Road West and turn rightat Maple Street and head North on Maple Street”. The display screen mayremain extended until the driver of the vehicle has carried out theinstructions and passed the first waypoint or milestone (for example,the intersection of Oak Road and Maple Street). The display screen maythen display the next instruction (such as, for example, “Take MapleStreet North to Interstate 96”) and may then retract until the vehicleapproaches the next waypoint. As the vehicle approaches the nextwaypoint, such as about one or two miles before the next waypoint (orany other distance as may be desired), the display screen may againextend and be activated to display or re-display the next instruction orset of instructions and/or map to the driver. For example, the displayscreen may extend (which, as discussed above, provides a visual cue tothe driver that he or she is approaching the next waypoint or milestoneof the journey) and may be activated to display a second instruction orset of instructions and/or map to the driver, such as “Enter Interstate96 and take Interstate 96 East to Exit 43”. While the vehicle is on theon-ramp or thereabouts, the display screen may display the next set ofinstructions or map (for example, “Take Interstate 96 East to Exit 43”),and then may retract to its retracted position as the vehicle is drivenonto Interstate 96 and heading east on Interstate 96. The display screenthus only extends and is activated when the instructions are desired,and is retracted between waypoints so as not to be a bother or nuisanceto the driver in situations where no further instructions are necessary.The extension of the display screen provides a visual cue to the driverto look at the screen for the next instruction at a particular time whenthe next instruction may be highly desirable or necessary to the driver.

The time or distance before the next waypoint that the display screenextends may be selected or pre-set by the manufacturer of the vehicle ormirror assembly or navigational system or the like. Optionally, the timeor distance before the next waypoint that the display screen extends mayvary depending on the vehicle speed or the particular road or highway onwhich the vehicle is traveling. For example, if the vehicle is travelingon a highway at about 70 mph, the display screen may extend and activateapproximately two miles before the next waypoint to allow the driversufficient time to get into the appropriate lane for exiting thehighway. However, if the vehicle is traveling on a road at about 30 mph,the display screen may extend and activate approximately 0.5 to 1 milesbefore the waypoint, because at the slower speed, such a distanceprovides ample time for the driver to prepare to execute the nextdriving instruction. The vehicle speed may be determined by wheelsensors or speed sensors of the vehicle or by the global positioningsystem or the like, or the speed may be estimated based on the knownspeed limit for the particular road that the vehicle is traveling on(where the particular speed limit may be extracted from a database ofsuch speed limits). It is further envisioned that the display screen mayextend and activate at different locations or distances relative to theapproaching waypoint in response to the driving conditions (as may bedetected by a rain sensor or other vision system or as may be providedby the global positioning system or the like), traffic conditions (asmay be provided by a vehicle vision system or object detection system orheadlamp control system or the like), and/or hazardous conditions (asmay be provided by vehicle vision systems or vehicle status systems orcollision avoidance systems, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 6,411,204, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference) and/orthe like, in order to provide sufficient time to the driver to prepareto execute the next set of instructions.

Optionally, the display screen may extend when the vehicle is not movingor stopped (as determined by a vehicle speed sensor or by a globalpositioning system or the like), such as at a stop light or the like,and may display information to the driver at a time when the driver isable to fully focus on the information being displayed. For example, thedisplay screen may display driving instructions or location informationor the like pertaining to the programmed route or next waypoint, or thedisplay screen may display trip statistics or the like, such as timetraveled, distance traveled, estimated arrival time, and/or the like.Optionally, the display screen may display other information that may beof interest to the driver, such as information pertaining to thegeographic position of the vehicle (such as, for example, if the vehicleis stopped by a particular store or restaurant, the display may displayan advertisement of the store or restaurant) as may be provided via theglobal positioning system database or concierge service or the like, ormay display any other type of information to the driver at a time whenthe driver has time to look at and read/understand the information whilethe vehicle is stopped. The display screen may be manually retractedwhen the driver is finished viewing the information being displayed ormay be automatically retracted upon movement of the vehicle or a periodof time after onset of movement of the vehicle. The extension of thedisplay screen when the vehicle is stopped may be manually overridden toavoid extension if such extension is not desired.

Optionally, the navigational system may be programmable or selectable oroperable to allow the driver to select at which waypoint or milestonealong the journey that the display screen will be extended and bevisible and readable by the driver to provide instructions such as thoseset forth above. For example, the driver of the vehicle may be wellaware of how to get onto Interstate 96 and to head east on Interstate 96to head toward the desired destination, but may not know where to exitand where to go after exiting the interstate. The driver thus may notwant the display screen to extend and provide the initial instructionsthat are already known to the driver while the driver is driving thevehicle toward and onto and along Interstate 96. At the onset of thejourney or while the driver is setting the navigation system, thenavigation system may receive inputs from the driver that are indicativeof a desired start point or waypoint for the instructions to begin, andthe display screen may remain retracted and deactivated until thegeographical position of the vehicle (as detected by the navigationalsystem detector) approaches the selected waypoint or milestone at whichthe display of the instructions or maps will begin (or unless thedisplay screen is extended and activated in accordance with a differentactivating or triggering event). As the vehicle approaches the selectedwaypoint or milestone, the display screen may extend and may beactivated to display the appropriate instructions and/or map. Forexample, the display screen may remain retracted while the vehicletravels toward and onto and along Interstate 96. When the vehicle isapproximately one to two miles (or other distance, as desired ordepending on other parameters as discussed above) from exit 43, thedisplay screen may extend to alert the driver, and may display theinstruction: “Take Exit 43 and turn left Pine Street. Take Pine StreetNorth to Elm Street.” After the vehicle has turned onto Pine Street, andthe system has detected that the waypoint has been reached, the displayscreen may again retract (and optionally may briefly display the nextdriving instructions or compass heading or map before it retracts) untilthe vehicle approaches the next waypoint, for example, the intersectionof Pine Street and Elm Street. As the vehicle approaches the nextwaypoint, the display screen may again extend and display the nextinstruction or set of instructions and/or map at the appropriate time orlocation before the next waypoint. The display screen thus may remainretracted throughout the known or familiar part of the journey, and thenmay extend to alert the driver or catch the driver's attention and toprovide the appropriate instructions and/or compass heading and/or mapto the driver at the appropriate time as the vehicle approaches the nextwaypoint or milestone in the journey or trip.

Optionally, if the driver is familiar with the route beyond what wasinitially thought when programming or setting or selecting the route,the driver may at any time manually override the system to retract thedisplay screen when it extends to provide the next instructions or map.For example, the driver may actuate an input or control at the displayscreen or at the steering wheel or at the mirror assembly or elsewherein the vehicle (such as may be provided at a keypad or touch padinterface, preferably menu driven as described herein) or may provide avocal message or voice command to cause the display screen to retractand deactivate if it is not desired or needed. The driver may actuate orprovide such inputs to select the destination or initial waypoint or tooverride the navigation system or the like or to enter telephone numbers(for a communication system) or street addresses or the like. Thenavigation system thus may retract the display screen when it is notneeded or desired by the driver. As the vehicle approaches the nextwaypoint or milestone in the journey, the display screen may againextend and provide the next appropriate instruction and/or map to thedriver of the vehicle. Likewise, if the driver is less familiar with theroute, or merely wants to check the location or progress or the like,the driver may override the system to cause the display screen to extendand activate to show the next instructions or directional heading or amap or any trip statistics that the driver may want to review. Forexample, the driver may actuate an input or control at the displayscreen or at the steering wheel or at the mirror assembly or elsewherein the vehicle or may provide a vocal message to cause the displayscreen to extend and activate to display such instructions, heading,maps or information or the like.

If a particular waypoint is passed or missed, such that the vehicle isno longer on or following the programmed route, the system may extendthe display screen to alert the driver and may display a warning that aturn or exit or the like was missed, and may provide instructions as tohow to get back on the programmed route, such as described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Taylor etal. for VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1103), which is hereby incorporated herein byreference. The display screen may be extended in this manner even duringthe initial or familiar part of the route to alert the driver that he orshe has departed from the desired route.

The display screen thus may extend to alert the driver that informationor video pertaining to one of the activating or triggering events orwaypoints is being displayed. The driver's attention is thus drawn tothe display screen when such information is being displayed, such thatthe driver is not likely to miss or overlook or ignore such information.The display screen thus provides a driver prompt that prompts the driverto look at the display screen for new information that is beingdisplayed thereon. Optionally, an audible prompt may be provided toalert the driver to look at the display screen for the instructions.Optionally, the navigation system and/or display screen device may beoperable to turn down the volume of other vehicle systems, such as aradio or communication system or the like, when the display screen isextended, such that the driver may focus on the display screen or sothat the driver may readily hear and recognize the audible prompt orvoice command or alert signal.

Optionally, the driver prompt or alert may be provided via an audiosignal or a tactile signal at the steering wheel or the like (such as avibration of the steering wheel to alert the driver to view the displayscreen), and may be provided in addition to the automatic extension ofthe display screen or as a separate or secondary prompt. Such asecondary prompt may be particularly useful when the driver passes awaypoint or milestone in a journey. In such a situation, the displayscreen may already be extended to display the nextwaypoint/instructions, so the secondary prompt may alert the driver tocheck or view the display screen to notify the driver that he or she haspassed the waypoint. Also, such a secondary prompt or audio or tactilesignal may be particularly useful when the display screen is alreadyextended for one function or system and another dynamic activating ortriggering event occurs that has a higher priority than the firstfunction or system. Because the display screen is already extended, thedriver may not be prompted by the extension of the screen to view thenew information. Therefore, the secondary prompt or signal may beprovided to alert the driver to again look at the display screen. Forexample, if the driver or occupant of the vehicle is using a telephonesystem and the display screen is already extended to show telephonenumbers or the like as the vehicle approaches a waypoint, the displayscreen may be adjusted or reconfigured to display the next set ofinstructions and/or compass heading and/or map associated with theapproaching waypoint and the secondary prompt may be provided to alertthe driver to look at the display screen. It is further envisioned thatthe display of the navigation instructions may be provided on the screenin addition to the telephone numbers (or other information or videobeing displayed on the display screen), such as in a picture-in-picturetype format (such as is known in the television art) or the like.Optionally, the secondary prompt may only be provided in such situationswhere the display screen is already extended for a first activatingevent when a second activating event occurs.

Optionally, the navigation system and display screen may be provided asa self contained module or the like at the windshield area of thevehicle. For example, the navigation system, including the globalpositioning system antenna and control circuitry and the like, may beprovided with a windshield electronics module or accessory module or thelike or with the mirror assembly or overhead console, and may be inelectrical connection or communication with the display screen device,such as via a wire connection or a wireless communication or the like.The complete navigation system and display thus may lend itself toaftermarket applications and may be installed in an existing vehicle.

For example, a stand alone navigation system may include a slide out orextendable/retractable display screen and a windshield electronicsmodule. The windshield electronics module may include the antenna (suchas a global positioning system antenna), controls and circuitry for thenavigation system. The controls may be operable to receive manual inputsto set a desired route and may be operable to control or extend/retractthe display screen and to activate the display screen to display theappropriate information to the driver, based on or in response to thegeographical location of the vehicle along the selected or desiredroute, such as described above. The stand alone navigation system mayinclude a user interface device, such as a keypad or manual inputs orthe like, and one or more displays, such as icons, letters, characters,and/or indicia or the like. The user interface device may receive manualinputs that select the desired route (such as by entering a desireddestination or address or the like), and the navigation system maydetermine the appropriate route and the appropriate waypoints at whichthe display screen may extend and activate to display the appropriateinformation to the driver of the vehicle.

Optionally, the user interface device may comprise a menu driven devicethat may display a plurality of functions in response to particularentries or key selections or inputs by the user of the navigationsystem. For example, the user interface device may include a displayscreen (and may be at or incorporated into the extendable/retractabledisplay screen) and may include a plurality of inputs or buttons orsensors or the like positioned at or around the display screen.Optionally, the inputs may be positioned at and at least partiallyaround the rim of the mirror, and the display may be provided as adisplay on demand transflective display at the mirror reflectiveelement, such as a display of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTINGSYSTEM (Attorney Docket DON01 P-962); and/or Ser. No. 09/793,002, filedFeb. 26, 2001, entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING AN ACCESSORYMODULE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-869), and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 9, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRRORREFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1109(PCT)), whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, the inputsmay be positioned around the rim of the display screen and the displayon demand transflective displays may be provided at the display screen.

The inputs may be actuated to select particular functions displayed onthe screen or may be held in or continuously or repeatedly actuated toscroll through functions or selections displayed on the screen. Forexample, the destination or address may be keyed into the navigationsystem by selecting and actuating an input that corresponds to the“destination entry” function shown on the display, where the user maythen be prompted to key in the address or street name. The user then mayactuate a first input and may continue to actuate the input (such asrepeatedly actuating the input or holding the input down to continuouslyactuate the input) to scroll through the alphabet (such as with thescrolling letter being shown on the display on demand transflectivedisplay at the display screen or mirror reflective element) to set thefirst letter of the street name. Once the first letter is set, the usermay do the same with a second input or button or sensor to set thesecond letter of the street name and so on. After a sufficient amount ofletters have been selected (such as the first three or four letters ofthe street name), the display screen may display multiple street namesin the targeted area (which may be input at the onset of the programmingof the navigation system) that start with the same letters keyed in bythe user. The user then may actuate another input to scroll through thelisted street names to find and select the desired street name. Forexample, the user may key in the first letter, such as “M” for MapleStreet by holding down the first button or input until “M” is shown atthe first space of the street name. The second letter “a” may beselected in a similar manner. After the first few letters are entered,the user may then scroll through the list of street names that begin,for example, with the letters “M-a-p”, and may then scroll down untilMaple Street is located, whereby the user may select “Maple Street” toenter the destination. The address and/or city and/or region and/or thelike may be entered in a similar manner to input the destination for thevehicle. The navigation system may then program or select theappropriate route and may begin to extend the display screen andactivate the display screen to provide the appropriate instructionsand/or compass headings and/or maps to the driver of the vehicle as thevehicle travels along the programmed route and approaches the waypoints.

The display screen of the present invention thus may be operable inconjunction with one or more systems of the mirror assembly or accessorymodule or console or of the vehicle, and may be linked to such systemsto display information or video or the like pertaining to the particularsystem when that system is activated or selected. The display screen mayautomatically extend and activate to display such information or videowhen a particular system is activated, or when a particular condition orlocation of the vehicle is detected, and may automatically retract whenthe particular system is deactivated or when the particular condition orlocation of the vehicle is passed. The display screen thus may extend toalert the driver that there is pertinent information or video beingdisplayed at the display screen, and may be retracted when suchinformation or video is not necessary or desired. The driver mayoverride the display screen function to manually retract/deactivate thedisplay screen when it is not desired, or to manually extend/activatethe display screen when it is desired. The display system thus providesa dynamic extension system that responds dynamically to drivingconditions and/or traffic conditions and/or vehicle conditions and/orhazardous conditions and/or selected systems or accessories.

Optionally, the video display screen device of the present invention maycomprise a video display screen module, which may include the videodisplay screen and the control and/or associated circuitry on the frameor support, such that the module is extendable and retractable relativeto the mirror casing. Such a video display screen module may bepurchased from a video display screen module source or supplier andassembled or installed into the mirror product at the mirror assemblyplant. For example, the module may be slidably installed as a singleunit on or along one or more slide members at the mirror casing andelectrically connected to a lead or wire or connector at the mirrorassembly, thereby easing the manufacturing processes of the mirrorassembly and video display screen assembly. Although the addition of thecontrol and associated components and circuitry to the extendable framemay add weight to the extended portion of the video display screenmodule, this is of minimal concern since any additional vibration of themirror assembly which may occur due to the additional weight extendedoutward from the mirror casing may occur when the video display screenis in its extended position, which, as discussed above, is preferablyoccasional or temporary, and typically when the video display screen isin use.

It is further envisioned that the frame of the video display screendevice of the present invention may support or include or contain one ormore other accessories or controls. For example, one or more useractuatable controls or buttons may be included on the frame and may beoperable to actuate or control the video display screen and/or one ormore other accessories, such as a rearward viewing device or system, acabin viewing device or system or a video communication device orsystem, or other accessories of the mirror assembly or of an accessorymodule or of the vehicle. Optionally, the frame may include or supportother accessories, such as one or more microphones or speakers or thelike, which may be associated with a video communication device orsystem in communication with the video display screen or may beassociated with other audio devices or systems of the vehicle.Optionally, the frame may support or include a camera or video orimaging device or sensor, which may be directable toward the driver ofthe vehicle when the frame is extended toward the driver side of thevehicle. For example, the camera, video display screen and a microphoneor microphones may all be included on the support frame of the videodisplay screen device and may function in connection with a video andaudio communication device or system or the like, such as a systemutilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377;and/or 6,420,975; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/30877, filed Oct.1, 2003 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1111(PCT)), which are herebyincorporated herein by reference. Other controls and/or accessories,such as discussed below with respect to the mirror assembly, may also orotherwise be included in or incorporated into the frame of the videodisplay screen device, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention.

Although shown and described as being positioned on a driver side of themirror assembly when the mirror assembly is installed in a vehicle, avideo display screen device in accordance with the present invention mayalternately or additionally or preferably be positioned on the passengerside of the mirror assembly to provide an extendable and retractablevideo display screen for viewing by a passenger of the vehicle, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention. Because the mirrorassembly is typically angled toward the driver of the vehicle to providethe driver with the appropriate or desired rearward field of view, thedriver side video display screen device of the present invention may, inits extended position, interfere with or contact the windshield when themirror assembly is angled toward the driver. In such applications wherethere may be insufficient clearance on the driver's side, it isdesirable and preferable to have the video display screen slide outwardtoward the passenger side of the vehicle (as shown in FIGS. 12 and 20).Because the mirror assembly is angled toward the driver of the vehicle,the passenger side video display screen may be readily viewable by thedriver of the vehicle when it is extended from the mirror assembly.Optionally, the passenger side video display screen may be pivotablerelative to the mirror casing to further angle the video display screentoward the driver to enhance the viewing of the video display screen.Thus, compared to mirror assemblies that have a display screen extend,such as from the bottom of the mirror casing when the mirror is mountedto the windshield, the display screen of the present invention providesan improved display by having the display unit slide or extend laterallyout from the mirror casing to reduce potential interference with theforward field of view of the driver of the vehicle. In the formersituations with the display screen extending from the bottom of themirror casing, the display screen may interfere with the forward fieldof view of the driver of the vehicle, whereas in applications of thepresent invention such as shown in FIGS. 12 and 20, the display screenmay extend to a region at the passenger side of the vehicle and thus isnot typically within the forward field of view of the driver duringnormal driving conditions.

Interior rearview mirror assembly 10 includes a mounting portion 36(FIGS. 3 and 4), which may be mounted to the vehicle to provide pivotalmovement of the mirror casing and reflective element relative to thevehicle. The mounting portion may be mounted to the vehicle, such as toan interior surface of the vehicle windshield or to a header portion ofthe vehicle or the like, via any mounting arm or mounting arrangement,such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,671,996; 5,813,745;5,673,994; 5,820,097; 5,708,410; 5,576,687; 5,521,760; 5,330,149;5,100,095; 5,058,851; 4,930,742; 4,936,533; 4,436,371; 4,524,941;4,435,042; and/or 4,646,210, which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Interior rearview mirror assembly 10 may include bezel portion 14 andcasing 12, such as described above, or the mirror assembly may compriseother types of casings or bezel portions or the like, such as describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,439,755; 4,826,289; and 6,501,387; and/or U.S.provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/500,858, filed Sep. 5, 2003 byKulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1112); Ser. No. 60/471,546, filed May 19, 2003 by Uken et al.for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1093); Ser. No.60/525,537, filed Nov. 26, 2003 by Uken et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FORVEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1129); and Ser. No. 60/525,952, filedNov. 26, 2003 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1130), which are all hereby incorporated hereinby reference, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Interior rearview mirror assembly 10 may comprise a prismatic mirrorassembly or an electrochromic mirror assembly. For example, interiorrearview mirror assembly 10 may comprise a prismatic mirror assembly,such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870; 5,327,288;4,948,242; 4,826,289; 4,436,371; and 4,435,042, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference. Optionally, the prismatic reflectiveelement may comprise a conventional prismatic reflective element orprism or may comprise a prismatic reflective element of the typesdescribed in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 byDonnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY (AttorneyDocket DON01 FP-1109(PCT)); and U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/525,952, filed Nov. 26, 2003 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENTFOR A VEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1130); and Ser. No. 60/471,872,filed May 20, 2003 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1092), which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may comprise an electro-optic orelectrochromic mirror assembly and may include an electro-optic orelectrochromic reflective element. The electrochromic mirror element ofthe electrochromic mirror assembly may utilize the principles disclosedin commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034;6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414;5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663;5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference, and/or as disclosed in the following publications:N. R. Lynam, “Electrochromic Automotive Day/Night Mirrors”, SAETechnical Paper Series 870636 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows forAutomobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series 900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam andA. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”, LargeArea Chromogenics: Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C.M. Lampert and C. G. Grandquist, EDS., Optical Engineering Press, Wash.(1990), which are hereby incorporated by reference herein; and/or asdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22,2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM (Attorney DocketDON01 P-962); and/or Ser. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001, entitledVIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney DocketDON01 P-869), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Themirror assembly may include one or more other displays, such as thetypes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or display-on-demandtransflective type displays, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULARLIGHTING SYSTEM (Attorney Doclcet DON01 P-962); and/or Ser. No.09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001, entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMSINCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-869), and/orPCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 9, 2003 by Donnelly Corp.et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY (Attorney Docket DON01FP-1109(PCT)), which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.The thicknesses and materials of the coatings on the substrates, such ason the third surface of the reflective element assembly, may be selectedto provide a desired color or tint to the mirror reflective element,such as a blue colored reflector, such as is known in the art and suchas described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,854 and 6,420,036, and in PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 9, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. etal. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY (Attorney Docket DON01FP-1109(PCT)), which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 6, the mirror assembly mayinclude a user actuatable input or inputs 15 to activate or deactivateor adjust one or more accessories of the mirror assembly or accessorymodule or console or of the vehicle. The inputs 15 may be positioned atthe mirror casing 12 or bezel portion 14 of the mirror assembly wherethey may be readily accessible by the driver or occupant of the vehicle.The inputs may comprise push buttons or the like or touch sensitiveelements or sensors or proximity sensors or the like that may beselectably touched or depressed or approached toactivate/deactivate/adjust the accessory or accessories, as discussedbelow.

Optionally, and desirably, the user inputs 15 may comprise one or moretouch sensitive elements or touch sensors or proximity sensorspositioned along the plastic mirror portion, such as the plastic casingor plastic bezel portion of the mirror assembly. The touch sensors orproximity sensors may be molded into the plastic mirror portion when theplastic mirror portion is formed or may be positioned in pockets withinthe plastic casing or plastic bezel portion, such that touching orapproaching the plastic mirror portion with a finger or the like in theregion where the touch sensor is positioned will actuate the touchsensor to provide the desired control function. The touch sensor thusmay provide control or adjustment of one or more accessories, withoutthe mechanical components and costs associated with known mechanicalbuttons and switches and the like. The touch sensors may be associatedwith or electrically connected to circuitry or a printed circuit boardof the mirror assembly or of the vehicle or of an accessory module orconsole or the like of the vehicle or mirror assembly, whereby actuationof the touch sensor or sensors causes a corresponding activation ordeactivation or adjustment or control of a desired or associatedaccessory or function, as also discussed below.

The touch sensitive elements or touch sensors or proximity sensors mayutilize aspects of touch sensitive elements of the types described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,001,486; 6,310,611; 6,320,282; and 6,627,918, and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/817,874, filed Mar. 26, 2001 by Quist etal. for INTERACTIVE AUTOMOTIVE REARVISION SYSTEM (Attorney Docket DON01P-889), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. For example,the proximity sensor may comprise a capacitive proximity sensor that isoperable to detect a capacitive disturbance or electric field detectionor disturbance at or near the sensor when an object, such as a person'sfinger or the like, enters the electric field at the sensor. Theproximity sensor may detect such a presence without requiring actualcontact with the person's finger, and may detect the presence of theperson's finger when the person's finger is within a few milimeters ofthe sensor, such as within approximately 3 mm or about 1 mm or closer.Optionally, the touch sensitive element may comprise a sensor of thetypes commercially available from TouchSensor Technologies, LLC ofWheaton, Ill. For example, the sensor may be operable to generate anelectric field and to detect the presence of a conductive mass enteringthe field. When a voltage is applied to the sensor, the sensor generatesthe electric field, which emanates through any dielectric material, suchas glass or plastic or the like (such as through the plastic bezelportion or the plastic casing of the mirror assembly or through thereflective element), at the sensor. When a conductive mass (such as aperson's finger or the like, or metal or the like) enters the electricfield, the sensor may detect a change in the field and may indicate sucha detection.

The sensor may be implemented at the mirror assembly without requiringany new interface designs and with no need for electronic modificationof a mirror assembly designed for conventional electromechanical buttonsor switches. Because the touch sensitive elements or sensors have nomoving parts to wear out, such touch sensitive elements may provideenhanced durability and longer life cycles over conventional mechanicalswitches.

As shown in FIG. 6, the touch sensors or proximity sensors may bepositioned along, such as by being embedded in the bezel material and/orbeing positioned behind the bezel portion of the mirror assembly, wherea user may touch or approach the sensor or sensors toactivate/deactivate or control or adjust the associated accessory orfunction. By having the touch sensors or proximity sensors in and/orphysically behind the plastic material of the mirror portion, thepresence of the sensor need not necessarily be readily visible to ordiscernable to the driver and/or occupant of the vehicle. Optionally,the sensors may include demarcations or printing or the like to bevisible or discernible to a user, or the sensors may be positionedwithin or behind the bezel portion (or elsewhere at the mirror assemblyor display screen or accessory module or console or the like) with noreadily visible or discernible demarcations to indicate their presence.For example, the bezel portion at the proximity/touch sensors may becolor coded or may have icons or indicia or text or the like printed orscreened thereon, or the sensors may be positioned at raised moldings orthe like at the bezel or may be at respective illumination sources orthe like to make the location of the sensors known to a user.Alternately, the location of the sensors may be substantially notreadily visible or discernible at the mirror assembly, without affectingthe scope of the present invention. In such applications where thelocations of the proximity/touch sensors are not readily known orobserved or discerned, it may be desirable to provide a display ordisplays along the reflective element at or above the sensors toindicate to the user the location and function of the proximity/touchsensors, as discussed below.

Likewise, in order to provide feedback to the user to indicate that theuser successfully actuated the touch sensor or proximity sensor, it isenvisioned that an illumination source, such as a light emitting diode(LED) or the like, may be positioned at or adjacent to a respectivetouch sensor, and may be energized or may glow when the touch sensor isactuated. The illumination source may be molded into the plastic mirrorportion (such as the plastic bezel portion or the plastic casing atwhich the touch sensor is positioned) or may be embedded or positionedin a pocket formed in the plastic mirror portion. The plastic mirrorportion may have a thin plastic wall at the region of the illuminationsource, such that the glowing illumination source may be visible throughthe thin plastic wall when the touch sensor is successfully actuated.

Optionally, one or more touch sensors or proximity sensors may bepositioned along the bezel portion of the mirror assembly, and themirror assembly may include one or more displays 15 a, such as displayon demand transflective type of displays, at the reflective elementgenerally at or near or above the touch sensors. The display or displaysmay be operable to display an icon or character or text or indicia orthe like that is associated with the function of the respective touchsensor when the touch sensor is actuated. The display thus may providean indication of the function of the touch sensor and/or may provide anindication that the user successfully actuated the touch sensor. Forexample, if a touch sensor functions to activate and deactivate anaccessory, such as, for example, a passenger side inflatable restraint(PSIR), an icon such as “PSIR on” may be energized or backlit or thelike when the touch sensor is actuated to indicate that the PSIR isactivated, and an icon such as “PSIR off” may be energized or backlit orthe like when the touch sensor is actuated a second time to indicatethat the PSIR is deactivated. The display icons or indicia may beenergized or backlit for a period of time following the actuation of thetouch sensor and then may be deactivated. If the touch sensors provide aspecific function or control, the plastic mirror portion may have anicon or indicia or the like printed thereon that corresponds to thefunction of the respective touch sensor, and the display may then beactivated to provide confirmation of a successful actuation of the touchsensor.

Optionally, and desirably, multiple touch sensors or proximity sensorsmay be positioned along the bezel portion of the mirror assembly, andthe mirror assembly may include one or more displays, such as display ondemand transflective types of displays, at the reflective elementgenerally at or near or above the touch sensors (or elsewhere at thereflective element). The touch sensors may control one or moreaccessories or functions and the function of the touch sensors maychange in response to user selections based on a menu driven display.For example, the display or displays may initially be operable todisplay icons or characters or text or indicia that are associated withinitial or selected functions of the touch sensors, and then may beoperable to display a second level or set of icons or characters or textor indicia that are associated with a selected second level or set offunctions of the touch sensors. The mirror assembly thus may provide amenu driven control system, whereby the function or functions of thetouch sensors may change or may be reconfigured depending on whatinitial function is selected or is displayed on the reflective element.

For example, the touch sensors may initially correspond to a particularor respective accessory or control function and a user may fist actuateone of the touch sensors to cause a display to show a selectablefunction or functions associated with the particular accessory, such asmultiple functions pertaining to the particular accessory. For example,one of the touch sensors may be actuatable to control or adjust acompass system and display, whereby the display may show functions orcontrols for the compass system at respective ones of the touch sensors,such as “on” at one of the touch sensors, “off” at another one of thetouch sensors, “cal” at another touch sensor (for calibrating thecompass system or manually activating a calibration mode of the compasssystem), “zone” at another touch sensor (for changing the zone of thecompass system), and/or the like. After touching the “compass” touchsensor to actuate the compass menu, the user may then actuate anappropriate touch sensor associated with the desired function. The useractuatable control or input thus provides two or more levels ofcontrols, where the first level (or first actuation of one of the touchsensors) causes the display to show the second level of associatedcontrol functions and causes the function of the touch sensors to changecorresponding to what is displayed at the reflective element. The touchsensors may then toggle the desired function or may adjust the desiredfunction or may select a third level of menus or functions for the touchsensors to control or adjust.

Optionally, an initial actuation of any one of the touch sensors orproximity sensors causes the display to display or indicate the initialor default function of the touch sensors, such as “compass”,“temperature”, “PSIR”, “clock”, “lights”, and/or the like for the userto select to switch the display and touch sensors to the desired controllevel. For example, a user may initially actuate any of the touchsensors to view a display of their initial or default functions and thenmay selectably actuate the touch sensor at the “lights” icon, wherebythe display may display different lights to activate/deactivate, suchas, for example, “map” (for activating/deactivating map reading lightsof the mirror assembly or of an accessory console or overhead system orconsole or of the vehicle), “ceiling” or “console” (foractivating/deactivating ceiling lights of the vehicle or of an accessoryconsole or overhead system or console), “rear seat” (foractivating/deactivating lights that illuminate the rear seat of thevehicle, such as for a baby view camera or the like, such as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,897 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001, entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMSINCORPORATING AN ACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-869), whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference), “door” (foractivating/deactivating lights in the vehicle doors), and/or otherlights of the mirror assembly or an accessory module or an accessoryconsole or overhead system or console or of the vehicle.

Optionally, the intensity or brightness of the display or displays maybe automatically adjusted in response to an ambient light sensor orglare detector, such as a sensor of the interior rearview mirrorassembly or vehicle or of a console or module or the like, such as thetypes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,690 and/or 5,193,029, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference, without affecting the scope ofthe present invention. In applications where the mirror reflectiveelement assembly comprises an electro-optic or electrochromic mirrorreflective element assembly, the displays may be automatically adjustedin response to the ambient light sensor or glare detector associatedwith the electro-optic or electrochromic circuitry or system. Thedisplay intensity of the displays may be adjusted in response to thephoto sensor or light sensor, and may be increased during daytimelighting conditions and reduced at dusk or during nighttime lightingconditions. The intensity of the displays may be substantiallycontinuously adjusted or may be adjusted in steps in response to thelight sensor or sensors, such as by utilizing aspects of the displaysdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,416,313 and 5,285,060, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference, or may be adjusted when the touchsensors are actuated.

Although shown and described as being positioned at the bezel or casingportion of the mirror assembly, it is envisioned that the touch sensorsor proximity sensors or elements may be positioned elsewhere at or onthe mirror assembly and may be positioned at the reflective element ofthe mirror assembly, such as behind the reflective element (where thepresence of a person's finger at or near the reflective element mayactuate the touch sensor or proximity sensor), without affecting thescope of the present invention. The reflective element assembly maycomprises a display on demand transflective display and may include suchproximity sensors to function as a touch screen (or proximity screen)for selecting or inputting the desired functions or inputs. It is alsoenvisioned that the touch sensors or proximity sensors and displays ofthe types described above may optionally be provided at the displayscreen device of the present invention, such as at or within the frameof the display screen device or behind the display screen such that thedisplay screen may provide a touch screen to provide menu drivencontrols or selections, or the touch sensors may be provided at anoverhead console or accessory system or module or the like (such as atthe overhead accessory system or module discussed below), withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention. Also, although describedas capacitive or electric field disturbance sensors that are actuatableby the user touching or approaching the plastic mirror portion or thereflective element or other mirror portion or module portion at theregion corresponding to the touch sensor, it is envisioned that theproximity sensors or elements may comprise other touchless sensors orelements, such as antennae or antenna segments or the like that detectthe presence of a person's finger at or near the region corresponding tothe antenna segments, such as described in U.S. provisional applicationSer. No. 60/508,086, filed Oct. 2, 2003 by Schofield for MIRRORREFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMPONENT (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1113), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more otheraccessories at or within the mirror casing, such as one or moreelectrical or electronic devices or accessories, such as antennas,including global positioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a blind spot detectionsystem, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,transmitters and/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like,a digital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, ahigh/low headlamp controller, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video devicefor internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keylessentry receiver, lights, such as map reading lights or one or more otherlights or illumination sources, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756; 5,178,448;5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253; and/or 5,669,698,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM (Attorney Docket DON01P-962); and/or Ser. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-869), microphones, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/30877, filed Oct. 1, 2003 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1111(PCT),speakers, a compass, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212;4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or 5,632,092, a tirepressure monitoring system, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,294,989; 6,445,287; and/or 6,472,979, a seat occupancy detector,a trip computer, an ONSTAR® system and/or the like (with all of theabove-referenced patents and patent applications being commonly assignedto Donnelly Corporation, and with the disclosures of the referencedpatents and patent applications being hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties). The accessory or accessories may bepositioned at or within the mirror casing and may be included on orintegrated in a printed circuit board 38 (FIGS. 4 and 5) positionedwithin the mirror casing, such as along a rear surface of the reflectiveelement or elsewhere within a cavity defined by the casing, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention. The user actuatable inputsand/or touch sensors and/or proximity sensors and displays describedabove may be actuatable to control and/or adjust the accessories of themirror assembly/system and/or overhead console and/or accessory moduleand/or vehicle. The connection or link between the controls and thedisplay screen device and/or the navigation system and/or other systemsand accessories of the mirror system may be provided via vehicleelectronic or communication systems and the like, and may be connectedvia various protocols or nodes, such as Bluetooth™, SCP, UBP, J1850, CANJ2284, Fire Wire 1394, MOST, LIN and/or the like, or other vehicle-basedor in-vehicle communication links or systems (such as WIFI and/or IRDA)and/or the like, depending on the particular application of themirror/accessory system and the vehicle. Optionally, the connections orlinks may be provided via wireless connectivity or links, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, the present invention provides a mirror assembly thatincludes a video display screen which is laterally extendable from aside of a mirror casing for viewing by an occupant of a vehicle. Thevideo display screen may be selectably or automatically sidably movablevia one or more rails or slide members laterally within the mirrorcasing. The video display screen may be positioned substantially withinthe mirror casing when not in use, and may extend substantially outwardfrom the mirror casing toward the driver or passenger side of thevehicle when viewing of the video display screen is desired. By havingextension of the video display screen occurring occasionally and inresponse to one or more activating events or stimuli, such as discussedabove, the temporary extension or presence of the video display screen,even when in or partially in the forward field of view of driver, is notunacceptable or hazardous. The extension and retraction mechanism allowsfor occasional use of the video display screen and allows the videodisplay screen to be stowed when not in use. By slidably positioning thevideo display screen within the mirror casing, the present inventionprovides for a large video display screen to enhance viewing of theimages displayed thereon by the driver or other occupant of the vehicle,while having a minimal affect on the size of the mirror casing. Themirror casing is formed to be wide enough to receive the video displayscreen therein, with the mirror casing being at least as wide as theheight dimension of the video display screen. Although shown anddescribed as being preferably incorporated into an interior rearviewmirror assembly mounted at an interior surface of the windshield oralternatively at an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at aheader portion of the vehicle or the like, embodiments of the presentinvention may be of benefit and may be used in other regions of thevehicle, such as in windshield electronic modules or accessory modulesor overhead systems or overhead consoles or the like, or into aninstrument panel portion of the vehicle, or elsewhere in the vehicle,without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 17-19, interior rearview mirror assembly 10 maybe mounted to a forward portion 50 a of an overhead accessory system ormodule 50 via the mounting portion 36. The forward portion 50 a ofoverhead accessory module 50 may extend downward and forwardly, such asalong an interior surface of the windshield 11, such that mirrorassembly 10 is positioned generally along the interior portion of thewindshield and below the overhead accessory module 50. Accessory module50 may include one or more accessories, systems, user interfacecontrols, light sources, storage compartments, visors, antenna, and/orthe like, as discussed below. The overhead accessory system or module 50provides an integrated overhead system which may extend substantiallyacross the width of the vehicle, as can be seen in FIGS. 17-19. Theoverhead accessory system extends laterally or in a direction generallytransverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle to define across-car overhead accessory module or system.

Overhead accessory system 50 may be suitable for a subsystem supplier orsystem integrator to provide the integrated overhead accessory system ormodule to the vehicle assembly line. The integrated overhead accessorysystem may thus provide substantial subsystems of the vehicle in a formthat allows the vehicle assembler to readily install the subsystems as asingle unit, thereby substantially reducing assembly and manufacturingprocesses for the vehicle assembly plant. The overhead accessory systemmay be shipped as a fully integrated unit, whereby the operator may makethe mechanical attachments of the accessory module to the vehicle bodyand the minimum required electrical connections to connect electricalpower and/or cables and/or the like (such as for communication withother controls or systems of the vehicle) to the accessory system. Theelectrical connections may be made to vehicle wiring harnesses or cablesor systems or circuitry or controls the like, such as to vehicleelectronic or communication systems and the like, and may be connectedvia various protocols or nodes, such as Bluetooth™, SCP, UBP, J1850, CANJ2284, Fire Wire 1394, MOST, LIN and/or the like, depending on theparticular application of the overhead accessory system and the vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the overhead accessory system or module 50may include decorative trim portions or the like 53, which may extenddownward to decorate or finish the forward extending portion 50 a of theoverhead accessory system. Optionally, the overhead accessory system ofthe present invention may be provided to a vehicle assembly plant as achassis or skeleton of the overhead system (and may include theaccessories and wiring), whereby the vehicle manufacturer (or optionallythe supplier of the overhead accessory system) may attach differenttypes of caps or skin portions or the like to the skeletal accessorymodule, whereby the manufacturer may customize the overhead accessorysystem for the desired appearance or function.

As can be seen with reference to FIG. 19, the overhead accessory moduleor system 50 may comprise multiple cross car consoles or modules 51 a,51 b and 51 c. The individual cross car consoles or modules 51 a, 51 b,51 c may be integrated with one another and may include bracing elements52 a, 52 b extending longitudinally along the vehicle (such as along theside portions of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 19 or along a center lineor elsewhere along the upper portion of the vehicle) between the spacedapart cross car consoles or modules. The overhead accessory system 50thus may include a forward or header cross module 51 a, a center ormiddle cross car module 51 b and/or a rear cross car module 51 c, eachof which extends generally transverse to the direction of travel of thevehicle, such as along or generally parallel to the transverse line 54 ashown in FIG. 19. The bracing elements 52 a, 52 b may extend generallybetween the cross car modules and generally along or generally parallelto a longitudinal line 54 b (FIG. 19) along the vehicle. The bracingelements may provide an electrical connection between the modules forcommunication between accessories or wires or systems in one of themodules or consoles to another, depending on the accessories or systemsincorporated into the modules and the intended application of theoverhead accessory system. Optionally, the cross car modules may beconfigured to extend longitudinally along the car from front to rear,with the bracing or connecting elements extending laterally across thecar or side to side between the longitudinal modules, without affectingthe scope of the present invention.

Because the rear cross car console or module 51 c may include electronicaccessories, such as a rear vision assist camera or lights or a centerhigh mounted stop lamp or the like, and because the front console 51 amay also include electronic accessories, the front and rear consoles(and middle console, if applicable) may be electrically interconnected,such that the electrical connection to the vehicle may be performed atonly one location as the overhead accessory system is mounted to thevehicle. For example, the vehicle manufacturer may bring utilities orelectrical connections through the front upper portion of the vehicle,whereby the front accessory console 51 a may connect to the utilities orwires or cables or the like at the front of the vehicle cabin. If theoverhead accessory system includes a middle console and/or rear console,which further includes an electronic accessory, such as a stop lamp orother light source or camera or the like, the overhead accessory systemmay have the appropriate connection for the electronic accessory of themiddle console and/or rear console at the front console, such that asingle electrical connection or connections may be made at the frontconsole during installation of the overhead accessory system to minimizethe electrical connections for the overhead accessory system duringinstallation of the accessory system to the vehicle at the vehicleassembly plant. The overhead accessory system thus may provide anintegrated accessory system which may provide electrical accessories atboth the front and rear of the vehicle and may provide electricalconnection to such accessories via a single electrical connection withthe vehicle wiring or wire harness or controls or power source or thelike. The present invention thus may be readily installed into thevehicle as an integrated unit to minimize the assembly processes at thevehicle assembly plant.

The multiple modules or consoles and bracing elements may be provided tothe vehicle assembly plant as an assembled unit or may be provided asseparate components. The operator or operators at the vehicle assemblyplant may install the individual modules or consoles and then mayinstall the connecting or bracing elements between the modules. Inapplications where the modules or consoles include electronicaccessories, the bracing elements may include wiring and mayelectrically connect to each of the adjacent modules as the bracingelements are installed to the vehicle or mechanically attached to themodules. For example, the bracing members or elements and the modulesmay include corresponding electrical connectors, such as plug and sockettype electrical connectors or snap together type electrical connectors,such that as the bracing members and/or the modules are installed, theelectrical connection between the components are made.

The overhead accessory system 50 may be modified depending on thevehicle or desired application of the accessory system. For example, insome vehicles, only the front or header cross module 51 a may beinstalled, while others may include a front console 51 a and a rearconsole 51 c, or a front console 51 a and a middle console 51 b, or afront console 51 a, a middle console 51 b and a rear console 51 c, oronly a middle or island console 51 b, or only a rear console 51 c, orany desired combination of consoles and connectors or bracing elements.For example, for a larger vehicle (such as a Suburban or other sportutility vehicle, van or like), the overhead accessory system may includethree overhead accessory consoles (or more consoles if desired), such asshown in FIG. 19. Optionally, the center or middle cross car console 51b may be separately implemented or mounted to the vehicle as an islandand thus may not be connected to either a front console or a rearconsole (any electrical connection to the vehicle wiring would thuspreferably be made at the center portion of the vehicle cabin).Likewise, the rear cross car module may be independently implemented atthe rear portion of the vehicle and thus, may not be connected to aforward or middle console (with any electrical connection to the vehiclewiring preferably being made at the rear portion of the vehicle cabin).The overhead accessory system of the present invention thus provides amodular overhead accessory system which may be selected or mixed andmatched for the particular application of the overhead accessory system.

The overhead accessory system may be mounted to the existing headlineror roof of the cabin of the vehicle or to a glass panel or glazing atthe roof of the cabin of the vehicle. Optionally, the accessory systemmay include one or more glass panels or may include openings whichcorrespond or generally align with glass panels or windows in the roofof the cabin of the vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 19,overhead accessory module 50 includes glass mounted grab handles 56,which are mounted to the glass window or glazing 57 at the roof of thecabin of the vehicle, such as by utilizing the principles disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,490,788; 6,231,111; 6,019,411; and 5,667,896, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference.

As shown in FIG. 19, the overhead accessory system 50 may include visors58, open storage areas or compartments 60, user interface controls 62(such as for a telematics system, compass/temperature display, tripcomputer, lights, garage door opening system, moon roof and/or thelike), one or more displays 63 (such as a compass display, a temperaturedisplay, an accessory status display, and/or any other informationdisplay or vehicle status display or the like), lights 64, grab handles66, storage lights 68, a video display 70 (such as for a DVD player orthe like), storage compartments 72 (such as for headphone storage or thelike), grab handles 56 (which may include lights 74), rear storagecompartments 76 (such as for storage of tools or the like or for anyother items which may desirably stored at the rear portion of the cabinof the vehicle), a first aid kit storage compartment 78, lights 80, acenter high mounted stop lamp 82, a rear vision or backup assist cameraor imaging device 84, and/or any other accessories or compartments orsystems (such as, for example, rain sensor systems, automatic headlampcontrol systems, antenna for various communication systems or the like)which may be desired for the particular application of the overheadaccessory system of the present invention.

Optionally, for example, one or more of the accessory modules of theoverhead accessory system of the present invention may include one ormore electrical or electronic devices or accessories, such as antennas,including global positioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a blind spot detectionsystem, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,transmitters and/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like,a digital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, ahigh/low headlamp controller, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video devicefor internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keylessentry receiver, lights, such as map reading lights or one or more otherlights or illumination sources, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756; 5,178,448;5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253; and/or 5,669,698,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM (Attorney Docket DON01P-962); and/or Ser. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-869), microphones, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/30877, filed Oct. 1, 2003 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1111(PCT)),speakers, a compass or compass system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or5,632,092, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filedJun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITHCOMPASS (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1076), a navigation system, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,464, and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIORREARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1076); Ser.No. 10/287,178, filed Nov. 4, 2002 by McCarthy et al. for NAVIGATIONSYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1051); Ser. No.10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Taylor et al. for VEHICLE NAVIGATIONSYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1103);and Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 (Attorney Docket DON01P-1074), a tire pressure monitoring system, such as the types disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,989; 6,445,287; and/or 6,472,979, a seatoccupancy detector, a trip computer, a telematics system, such as anONSTAR® system or the like, and/or any other desired accessory or systemor the like (with all of the above-referenced patents and patentapplications being commonly assigned to Donnelly Corporation, and withthe disclosures of all of the above referenced patents and patentapplications being hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties).

The accessory or accessories may be positioned at or within anappropriate or desired one or more of the overhead cross car modules orconsoles and may be connected or integrated via one or more connectingwires or cables or the like connecting between the modules or consoles,such as along or within the bracing members or the like. The accessoriesmay all be connected to the vehicle wiring or power source or controlsor the like at a connector or multiple connectors provided at one of thecross car consoles or modules, such that the integrated overheadaccessory system and all of the electrical accessories associatedtherewith or incorporated therein may be readily connected to thevehicle wiring or controls or the like to reduce assembly processeswithin the vehicle assembly plant.

With reference to FIGS. 20-23, an interior rearview mirror assembly 110may be mounted to or integrated with an overhead accessory system ormodule 150. Mirror assembly 110 may be substantially similar to mirrorassembly 10, discussed above, and may include a video display screendevice 118, which is slidably mounted at least partially within a mirrorcasing 112 and slidable between a retracted or stored or non-useposition (not shown in FIGS. 20-23) and an extended or use position (asshown in FIGS. 20, 22 and 23). Because mirror assembly 110 may besubstantially similar to mirror assembly 10, discussed above, a detaileddiscussion of the mirror assembly and video display screen device willnot be repeated herein. As shown in FIG. 20, the mirror assembly isinstalled in a right hand drive vehicle, such that the video displayscreen device 118 extends toward the left or passenger side of thevehicle and opposite from the steering wheel 149 of the vehicle. Asdiscussed above, such an arrangement may provide enhanced viewing of thevideo display screen when the mirror assembly is angled or canted towardthe driver of the vehicle.

Mirror assembly 110 is mounted at a forward portion 150 a of overheadaccessory system or module 150. As discussed above with respect tooverhead accessory system 50, overhead accessory system 150 may bemounted or secured to the roof or ceiling or headliner of the cabin orvehicle and may extend substantially across the upper portion of thevehicle. The overhead accessory module 6 r system 150 may include amounting portion 151 at the forward portion of the system for mountingor integrating the interior rearview mirror assembly 110 with theaccessory system 150. Optionally, the overhead accessory system mayinclude one or more other accessory modules or cross car consoles anconnecting or bracing elements or members, such as discussed above.

As can be seen in FIGS. 20-23, mirror assembly 110 may be integratedwith accessory system 150 via a generally downwardly extending mountingarm 151 mounted to or otherwise secured to the forward portion 150 a ofoverhead accessory system 150. The mirror assembly and integratedoverhead accessory system may thus be provided to the vehicle assemblyplant as an integrated unit for installation as a unit to the vehicle.Overhead accessory system 150 may include other accessories, systems,displays 152 (such as shown in FIG. 23) and/or the like. Optionally,overhead accessory system 150 may further include user interfacecontrols, storage compartments, grab handles and/or the like, such asdiscussed above.

Although shown and described as having an interior rearview mirrorassembly with a video display screen incorporated therein, the overheadaccessory system of the present invention may include or may receive orincorporate other types of interior rearview mirror assemblies, such asknown or conventional prismatic or electrochromic interior rearviewmirror assemblies or the like, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention. The interior rearview mirror assembly may also orotherwise include one or more electronic accessories and may connect toan electrical wiring or system of the overhead accessory system.Optionally, the overhead accessory module or system may include controlsor circuitry for controlling the accessories or displays at the mirrorassembly, such that the mirror assembly may not include the circuitryand controls within the casing of the mirror assembly. For example, theoverhead accessory system may include compass sensors, circuitry or thelike, and the mirror assembly may provide a directional heading display,whereby the display may be controlled by the circuitry of the overheadaccessory system, such as via the principles disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. forINTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS (Attorney Docket DON01P-1076), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The mirrorassembly may be mounted to the overhead accessory system via known orconventional mounting arrangements (such as shown in FIG. 17) or may beintegrated with the overhead accessory system (such as shown in FIGS.20-23), without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 24-26, an interior rearviewmirror assembly 110′ may be pivotally mounted to an overhead console oraccessory system 150′. Interior rearview mirror assembly 110′ may besecured to or attached to a mounting member 151 that is pivotallymounted to overhead console 150′. Mounting member 151′ may be fixedlysecured to mirror assembly 110′ and may extend generally upwardly froman upper or rearward portion or casing of the mirror assembly. Mountingmember 151′ includes a ball member 11 a′ at an upper end of mountingmember 151′. As shown in FIG. 22, ball member 151 a′ is pivotallyreceived in a socket or receiving portion 153 of overhead console 150′,such that the reflective element 116′ of mirror assembly 110′ may beadjusted relative to the driver of the vehicle by pivoting the entiremirror assembly 110′ and mounting member 151′ relative to the overheadconsole 150′. Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 26, a mounting member151″ may be provided with a larger ball member 151 a″ that is pivotallyreceived in a socket or receiving portion 153′, such as may be desiredfor heavier mirror assemblies, such as a mirror assembly that may haveadditional electronic content or accessories, such as, for example, adisplay screen or the like as described above. The mounting arrangementof the present invention thus may provide for pivotal adjustment withinthe overhead console or accessory system or the like and thus mayfacilitate removal of the known pivotal mounting members from the mirrorassembly. The mounting member may be fixedly attached to the mirrorcasing or may be pivotally attached to the mirror casing to allowpivotal movement or adjustment of the mirror casing relative to themounting member.

Interior rearview mirror assembly 110′ may be similar to the interiorrearview mirror assemblies 10, 110, discussed above, or may be any othertype of prismatic or electro-optic or electrochromic mirror assembly,such as those described above, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention. In applications where the mirror assembly comprises aprismatic mirror assembly, the mirror assembly or the console mayinclude the toggle mechanism to flip or adjust the mirror assembly andreflective element between daytime and nighttime viewing positions.Also, the accessory console 150′, 150″ may comprise an overheadaccessory system of the types described above and below, or may compriseother types of consoles or the like, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention.

The mounting member may provide a passageway therethrough for routing ofelectrical wiring or connectors between the overhead console and themirror assembly to provide electrical connection between the mirrorassembly or accessories of the mirror assembly (or of an accessorymodule or pod or the like associated with the mirror assembly) and theconsole or the vehicle. Optionally, communication or control between theconsole and mirror assembly or between the mirror assembly and thevehicle or the like may be provided via a wireless communication networkor system, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEWMIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1076), which ishereby incorporated herein by reference, without affecting the scope ofthe present invention.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 27-31, an overhead accessorysystem 250 may be positionable along a headliner portion of a vehicleand may include one or more sub-modules or sub-systems 252, 254, 256,258 that are positionable at or mountable or connectable to theaccessory system 250. The sub-modules 252, 254, 256, 258 may be selectedand installed as options as selected by the customer ordering thevehicle, such that the accessory system 250 may provide a commonoverhead console or housing 251 with basic circuitry or a motherboard orwiring, while the sub-modules 252, 254, 256, 258 may provide theappropriate electronics and circuitry associated with the optionalaccessory incorporated into the sub-module. The accessory system 250thus is configurable to receive or interconnect with various optionalaccessories and may reduce the costs for systems of vehicles where fewor none of the optional electrical accessories are selected. Forexample, if none of the electrical accessories are selected, then thesub-modules may provide storage areas or the like or may provide a trimpanel or the like, whereby the base electronics of the console does notinclude (and thus the consumer does not have to pay for) the intelligentcircuitry associated with such optional electronic accessories. Theaccessory system 250 may include an enabler module 266, which mayinclude a microprocessor or smart circuitry, that may interface with andcontrol the accessories of the sub-modules, as discussed below.

As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28, at least some of thesub-modules 252, 254, 256, 258 may include an electronic accessory, andmay also or otherwise include or provide an opening or storagecompartment 252 a or a movable panel/storage compartment 256 a (such asfor storing sunglasses or the like within a compartment). For example,and as shown in FIG. 28, sub-module 252 may comprise a “vision”sub-module and may include the intelligent or smart circuitry andcomponents for an automatic headlamp control or headlamp dimming system(such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094 and/or5,715,093, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), a rainsensor (such as the types disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos.6,320,176; 6,353,392 and 6,313,454, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference), a telematics or communication system (such as ONSTAR™ orthe like) including user interface controls or buttons 252 b, and/or oneor more antennae (such as for cellular telephone system, a globalpositioning system (GPS), and/or a short-range communication system,such as is used for electronic toll collection and/or or the like). Inthe illustrated embodiment of FIG. 27, sub-module 252 also provides anopen storage compartment 252 a for receiving items placed there by auser or occupant of the vehicle. Similarly, sub-module 254 may comprisean “information” sub-module, and may include a trip computer, atemperature detection system or circuitry and/or a compass system orcircuitry (such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212;4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or 5,632,092, and/orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 byWeller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1076), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference)and/or the like, and may include user interface controls or buttons 254a and/or a display 254 b for displaying the trip computer output,temperature and/or compass heading and/or the like. In the illustratedembodiment, sub-module 256 may comprise a “control” sub-module, and mayinclude a tire pressure monitoring system or circuitry (such as thetypes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,989; 6,445,287; and/or6,472,979, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/232,122, filedAug. 30, 2002 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1003); and Ser. No. 10/279,059,filed Oct. 23, 2002 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1027), which are herebyincorporated herein by reference), a remote keyless entry system orcircuitry and/or a universal garage door opening system or circuitry(such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771;5,798,688 and 5,479,155, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference) and/or the like, and may include user interface controls orbuttons 256 b and a storage container 256 a with a closable panel. Also,sub-module 258 may comprise a “connectivity” sub-module that may includevarious interface systems or circuitry, such as a Bluetooth HandsFree™system, a garage door opener system, or other vehicle-based orin-vehicle communication links or systems (such as WIFI and/or IRDA)and/or the like, and may include user interface controls or buttons 258a In the illustrated embodiment, sub-module 258 is shown with amicrophone 258 b, such as for a communication system or the like (suchas the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or6,420,975, and/or as described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/30877,filed Oct. 1, 2003 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1111(PCT)), which arehereby incorporated herein by reference), positioned generally above theinterior rearview mirror assembly 210. However, the microphone or anyother accessory or feature or the like may be placed at one of thesub-modules, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Also,although shown and described as having particular accessories or systemsor circuitry and/or storage openings or compartments, clearly otheraccessories or circuitry or compartments or lights or the like may beprovided at any of the sub-modules, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention. Optionally, the interior rearview mirror assembly 210may be selected to have various options, whereby the particular mirrorassembly (and associated options or accessories, such as lights, videodisplay, cameras and/or the like) may be connected to or plugged intothe accessory console 250 in a similar manner.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, each of the sub-modules (such as sub-module256 in FIGS. 29 and 30) may include a housing 253 and a cover plate 255.The cover plate or lid 255 may include the user interface controls orbuttons 256 b and the associated circuitry, while the housing 253 formsor defines or receives or contains a storage compartment or the like.The electronic features or accessories or circuitry of the sub-modulesthus may be contained in the lid portion of the sub-module (or at a sideor back or elsewhere on the sub-module), while the body of thesub-module may provide a storage feature or the like, if desired.Optionally, the sub-module or sub-modules may include additionalelectronic accessories and components and may or may not provide astorage compartment or the like within the housing, without affectingthe scope of the present invention. The sub-module includes anelectrical connector 257 (electrically connected to the circuitry oraccessory of the sub-module, such as via a flexible printed circuitcable or a ribbon cable or the like 257 a) positioned at or mounted to aside of the housing 253 and generally fixedly positioned at the side ofthe housing. One or more sides of the housing 253 also includes aretention clip 259 for retaining the sub-module within or partiallywithin the cavity or opening in the console or housing 251 of accessorysystem 250.

As shown in FIG. 29, the sub-module 256 may be inserted into an opening251 a of overhead accessory console 251 until the electrical connectionis made between electrical connector 257 and a corresponding electricalconnector 251 b of console 251. When sufficiently inserted into theopening 251 a, the retention clip 259 engages a lip 251 c of console 251to retain the sub-module within the console. As shown in FIG. 29, thesub-module 256 may include an overlapping flange or lip 253 a that mayoverlap the lip 251 c of the console to prevent over-insertion of thesub-module and to provide a secure retention of the sub-module withinthe console (such as by clamping the lip 251 c between the lip 253 a andthe retention clip 259). The overlapping lip 253 a of the sub-module mayalso provide a finished and enhanced appearance to the accessory system250. The other sub-modules may be inserted and connected and retained ina similar manner.

The electrical connectors 257,251 b may provide plug and socket typeconnectors to ease the assembly or insertion or installation of thesub-module into the console 251. Preferably, the connector 257 of thesub-module comprises a self-aligning connector to facilitate or enhancethe connection to the connector 251 b of console 251 (which may be agenerally blind connection as the sub-module is inserted or plugged intothe opening in the console). The connector 257 may “float” at the sideof the sub-module housing 253 to further facilitate adjustment andalignment of connector 257 with connector 251 b, such that connector 257readily plugs into or receives or connects to connector 251 b as thesub-module is inserted or plugged into the opening in the console. Thesides of the housing 253 may assist in guiding the sub-module andelectrical connector 257 into general alignment with the opening andelectrical connector 251 b, such that the sub-module may be readilyinserted or plugged into the opening in the console by an operator atthe vehicle assembly plant or the like, whereby the mechanical retentionconnection and electrical connection are made by the same installationor insertion process. Although shown as having the connector on the sideof the sub-module, clearly, the electrical connector may be positionedelsewhere on the sub-module (and correspondingly on the console), suchas at a bottom or back portion of the sub-module housing or elsewhere toprovide electrical connection of the sub-module to the console as thesub-module is inserted or plugged into the opening in the console,without affecting the scope of the present invention.

As shown in the schematic of FIG. 31, the accessory console 251 mayinclude a motherboard 260, that may include a rigid or flexible printedcircuit board (PCB), or a ribbon cable and/or hard wires or the like, ora light cable or conduit (such as fiber optic cable or the like) thatmay provide electrical communication to, from and between thesub-modules (and the accessories or circuitry of the sub-modules) andany associated components or accessories or systems of the accessorysystem 250 or the vehicle. The motherboard 260 may be operable towirelessly communicate via infrared (IR) signals, radio frequency (RF)signals or the like with the sub-modules and/or the vehicles accessoriesor systems, such as utilizing the principles described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. forINTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS (Attorney Docket DON01P-1076), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Themotherboard 260 may be connected to the vehicle wiring harness 270, sucha via electrical connectors 261, 271 (which may be plug and socket typeconnectors or the like, or may provide a connection to a hard wire bussystem of the vehicle, or the motherboard may communicate to the vehiclevia radio frequency signals, infrared signals or the like). Theconnectors 261, 271 may be connected as the overhead accessory consoleor system is installed to the vehicle, such as described above withrespect to accessory system 50. As shown in FIG. 31, the motherboard 260may be connected to each of the connectors 251 b and thus to each of thesub-modules (not shown in FIG. 31) via the corresponding sub-moduleconnectors 257. The motherboard or console wiring 260 may also includeone or more other accessories, such as lights or the like 262 (and mayinclude user interface controls or buttons 263 for activating the lightsor the like) that may be positioned at the console, such as forproviding illumination of the cabin or of one or more of the accessoriesor the like of the accessory system.

In order to reduce the base cost and content of the overhead accessorysystem, the motherboard or wiring 260 of the accessory console 251 mayprovide only the base wiring (and optionally may only connect to powerand ground at the vehicle wiring harness 270).

Also, the sub-modules 252, 254, 256, 258 may only include the electricalcontent for the particular accessory or system or feature provided bythe sub-module (and may not include the interface circuitry or otherintelligent circuitry or “smarts” for controlling and interfacing theaccessories with the vehicle systems). Therefore, the motherboard 260may include another electrical connector 264 for connecting to anenabler module 266 via an electrical connector 266 a of enabler module266. The enabler module 266 may be inserted into or plugged into theconsole at a desired location, such as at or adjacent to or near thesub-modules or elsewhere on the console.

Enabler module 266 may comprise a microprocessor with software andmemory for interfacing with and controlling the accessories of thesub-modules and processing information or data received from thesub-modules (and optionally the interior rearview mirror assembly). Theenabler module 266 may provide the interface circuitry and other smartcircuitry, such as bus interface circuitry and the like, and mayfunction to recognize what modules or sub-modules are connected to themotherboard 260, and may control or interface with the sub-modules tofacilitate operation of the sub-module accessories. The enabler module266 may control the signal flow to and from and between the sub-modulesand the accessory system and/or the vehicle, and may manage a businterface or the like between the sub-modules and the accessory systemand/or the vehicle. The enabler module 266 thus enables the accessorysystem to work with whichever sub-modules are selected and plugged intothe console 251, without requiring interfacing circuitry and the like ineach of the sub-modules.

The enabler module 266 may provide other smart controls for thesub-modules so that the sub-modules need not include such additional andoften costly circuitry, thereby reducing the incremental cost for eachof the sub-modules added to the accessory system. The enabler module 266thus functions to effectively transform the motherboard 260 into a“smart” motherboard that is capable of controlling and communicatingwith the sub-modules connected thereto, and that may let the vehicleknow what information or circuitry or accessories that the vehicle hasinstalled or available in the accessory system. Optionally, the enablermodule may control one or more accessories of the motherboard, such asthe lights 262 or the like. For example, the enabler module may receivea signal from a bus interface of the vehicle and may activate, dim anddeactivate the lights of the accessory system in response to a signalindicative of situations where activation, dimming and deactivation ofthe cabin interior lights of the vehicle is desired, such as when a dooris opened and closed or the like (without the enabler module, suchlights may be activated by the user interface controls or buttons).Although shown and described above as being associated with a forwardoverhead accessory system, the sub-modules and enabler module of thepresent invention may be implemented at or in connection with the middleand/or rear accessory modules (such as the middle module 51 b and rearmodule 51 c discussed above), without affecting the scope of the presentinvention.

Optionally, the enabler module 266 may use or share circuitry from thevarious sub-modules plugged into the motherboard 260, and may be able touse or share such common or compatible circuitry from one sub-module foran accessory of another sub-module if there is a failure in thecircuitry of the other sub-module. For example, the enabler module 266may allow a telematics system of one sub-module (such as sub-module 252in FIG. 28) to utilize and interface with a microphone or receiver orantenna or the like at another sub-module (such as the microphone 258 bof sub-module 258 in FIG. 27), or may facilitate sharing of othercomponents and/or circuitry (such as displays, lights, sensors and/orthe like) of the sub-modules or interior rearview mirror assembly and ofthe accessory system and/or vehicle.

Optionally, the enabler module circuitry may interface with otheraccessories of the vehicle (such as through a bus interface of thevehicle or the like, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,291,905 and6,472,773, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference) and mayutilize circuitry or components of the other accessories in connectionwith the accessories of the sub-modules of the overhead accessorysystem. For example, the enabler module circuitry may facilitate theinterface between the tire pressure monitoring system of sub-module 256and the tire pressure sensors or the like at the tires of the vehicle,if applicable. Also, for example, the enabler module circuitry mayutilize a sensor or camera for a vehicle vision system (such as a visionor camera system utilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,550,677; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,396,397; and/or 6,498,620,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference) of the vehicle foruse with other accessories or systems (such as an automatic headlampcontrol system or rain sensor or the like) that are incorporated intoone or more of the sub-modules of the overhead accessory system.

Optionally, the enabler module 266 may have reconfigurable aspects forreprogramming the microprocessor or for upgrading the software or thelike. For example, the enabler module may be set up to recognize andreceive new software or to recognize and interface with otheraccessories that may be developed and implemented after manufacture ofthe enabler module. The enabler module may receive a software upgradevia an input device, such as via an input port at the enabler module orelsewhere on the console, or via a DVD or CD player in the overheadconsole or in the vehicle, or via a diagnostic connection or interfaceof the vehicle, or via any other means of providing the upgrade to theoverhead system and enabler module. Optionally, the enabler module maybe removed and replaced with a new enabler module to accommodate otherlater developed software or accessories or features of the accessorysystem.

The enabler module 266 may be a common module regardless of whichsub-modules are selected and connected to the accessory system.Therefore, the enabler module 266 may only be provided in situationswhere at least one sub-module having electronic accessories or circuitryis selected. The additional incremental cost for having more sub-modulesis then lower because the smart circuitry and controls are alreadyprovided by the enabler module that is required for the firstsub-module. If no electronic accessories or electronic sub-modules areselected, then no enabler module is required, whereby the openings inthe console may be filled with various base-ine storage compartments ormay be covered with a trim plate or the like. In such applications, theaccessory system is substantially de-contented and only includes themotherboard or wiring and associated connectors and may be lights or thelike.

Optionally, a standard accessory sub-module that is standard for aparticular car line (for example, a vehicle may have a trip computer asa standard item, whereby a trip computer sub-module may be provided inall of the vehicles of that car line) may include the enabler circuitry,whereby the accessory system would not require or include a separateenabler module. In such an application, any additional or optionalsub-modules may be provided without such smart or control or interfacecircuitry and may connect and communicate with and be controlled by theenabler circuitry of the standard accessory sub-module. Optionally, theconsumer may select from several “base” options, where each of theoptions includes a particular accessory sub-module that incorporates theenabler circuitry, such that additional optional sub-modules need notrequire such circuitry.

The accessory system of the present invention thus provides for optionalsub-modules that may be selected and plugged into a standard or commonoverhead console having a standard or common electronic motherboard. Thesmart circuitry and interface controls and circuitry and microprocessormay only be provided or added or connected to the console andmotherboard (to make the motherboard function as a smart motherboard) ifparticular electronic accessory sub-modules are selected and pluggedinto the console. The present invention thus provides a distribution ofthe intelligence for controlling and interfacing such accessories orcircuitry and may provide for interconnectivity of the modules orsub-modules and accessories or circuitry or systems of the overheadaccessory system, and may provide such interconnectivity of thesub-module accessories or circuitry to other accessories or circuitry orsystems of the vehicle. The accessory system may reduce or minimize thecontent of the individual sub-modules to reduce their incremental costand to allow the vehicle manufacturer to only provide the typicallycostly interface circuitry, microprocessor and the like when it isneeded and to only provide one module with such circuitry and the like,whereby the one module (either the enabler module or a standardsub-module or the like) may interface with and enable the other optionalaccessories or sub-modules that may be added to the accessory system.The accessory system thus may provide accessories that have a reducedincremental cost once a first accessory or sub-module is selected.

Referring now to FIGS. 32 and 33, an overhead accessory system ormodular console 350 may be mountable to an interior portion of avehicle, such as at the headliner 312 or at a frame portion or sheetmetal portion 313 of the vehicle. Modular console 350 includes multiplemodules or sub-modules 352, 354 that may be connected together viaconnecting portions or clips 360 to form the modular console 350. Theconnecting portions or clips 360 may provide a snap together assembly ofthe modules to form a desired modular console, as discussed below. Theassembled modular console 350 may be mounted to the interior portion ofthe vehicle via fasteners 362 or the like, as shown in FIG. 32. Modularconsole 350 may include a trim strip or trim portion 364 that may beconnected to the outer connecting portions 360 a of the modules 352, 354and that may connect or attach to the interior portion of the vehicle toprovide an aesthetically pleasing trim portion around the modularconsole. The modular console thus may comprise various common modules orsub-modules or accessories or the like within various common modules orsub-modules, and may be adapted to be installed and finished in aparticular vehicle via an appropriate or desired trim strip or trimportion that corresponds with the particular vehicle.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 32 and 33, module 352 includes agarage door opening system or accessory (such as a garage door openingdevice of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771; and5,798,688, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/502,806,filed Sep. 12, 2003 by Taylor et al. for GARAGE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM FORVEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1114); and Ser. No. 60/444,726, filedFeb. 4, 2003 by Baumgardner et al. for GARAGE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM FORVEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1065), which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference), and may provide a storage compartment (such as forstoring a hand held garage door opening device or transmitting device orthe like), while module 354 provides lights, such as map reading lightsor the like (such as lights or illumination sources of the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994;5,649,756; 5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096;6,042,253; and/or 5,669,698, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-962); and/orSer. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-869);and/or U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/436,259, filed Dec. 23,2003 by Lynam for LIGHT MODULE FOR INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1060), which are hereby incorporated herein byreference). However, other accessory or storage modules or sub-modulesmay be selected and assembled together to form the modular console,depending on the desired console content for the particular vehicle. Forexample, one or both of the modules or sub-modules may comprise rearclimate controls, a moon roof control, a compass display (and optionallythe corresponding circuitry and sensors), such as compass systems and/ordisplays of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594;4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or 5,632,092; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. forINTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS (Attorney Docket DON01P-1076), a navigation system, such as the types described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,477,464, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filedJun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITHCOMPASS (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1076); Ser. No. 10/287,178, filed Nov.4, 2002 by McCarthy et al. for NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1051); Ser. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Tayloret al. for VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1103); and Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24,2003 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1074), a message center, or any othertypes of accessories or displays or systems or the like that may bedesired. Optionally, the particular modules or sub-modules may compriseany other accessory or combination of accessories, such as microphones,such as for interfacing with a vehicle telematics system or the like,such as microphones of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003;6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975, and/or in PCT Application No.PCT/US03/30877, filed Oct. 1, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. forMICROPHONE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1111(PCT)),speakers, antennas, including global positioning system (GPS) orcellular phone antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, acommunication module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, avoice recorder, a blind spot detection system, such as disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, a side object detection andwarning system, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/427,051, filed Apr. 30, 2003 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1075); and Ser.No. 10/209,173, filed Jul. 31, 2002 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1016),transmitters and/or receivers, such as for a garage door opener or avehicle door unlocking system or the like (such as a remote keylessentry system), a tire pressure monitoring system, such as the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,989; 6,445,287; and/or 6,472,979, adigital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, ahigh/low headlamp controller, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a rain sensor, such as the types disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,353,392; 6,320,176 and 6,313,454, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/355,454, filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Schofield et al.for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1050), a memorymirror system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, ahands-free phone attachment, a video device for internal cabinsurveillance (such as for sleep detection or driver drowsiness detectionor the like) and/or video telephone function, such as disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keyless entry receiver, aseat occupancy detector, a remote starter control, a yaw sensor, aclock, a carbon monoxide detector, status displays, such as displaysthat display a status of a door of the vehicle, a transmission selection(4wd/2wd or traction control (TCS) or the like), an antilock brakingsystem, a road condition (that may warn the driver of icy roadconditions) and/or the like, a trip computer, an ONSTAR® system and/orthe like (with all of the above-referenced patents, PCT applications andU.S. patent applications referred to in this paragraph being commonlyassigned to Donnelly Corporation, and with the disclosures of thereferenced patents and patent applications being hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties). The selected modules thus mayprovide the desired electrical or mechanical or storage function and maybe assembled together for installation in the particular vehicle at thevehicle assembly plant.

It is further envisioned that the modular console may comprise commonmodules or sub-modules that may be mountable in different vehicles ordifferent vehicle lines, whereby the console and modules may be commonacross two or more vehicle lines, but the trim strips may be designedfor adapting the outer trim of the console to a particular vehicle orvehicle line. As shown in FIG. 34, a modular console 350′ may includethree modules 352, 354 and 356, with the common modules being assembledor arranged in a desired manner to form the modular console. The modularconsole may be completed by installing or attaching the appropriate trimstrip or member or portion 364′ around the outer perimeter of themodular console, where the appropriate trim portion corresponds to theparticular vehicle or vehicle line into which the modular console is tobe installed. As shown in FIG. 34, modular console 350′ may include aninterior rearview mirror assembly 366 mounted on an extension 368 of theconsole or trim portion, depending on the particular application of themodular console. With reference to FIGS. 36 and 37, another modularconsole 350″ may include common modules 352, 356, 358, similar tomodular console 350′, and may have particular trim strips or members orportions 364″.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, the modular console may beformed or assembled using common accessory modules or sub-modules(containing various electrical or mechanical accessories or the like) togenerally form the internal portion of the console, and then aparticular trim portion may be attached to adapt the perimeter edges ofthe console for the particular vehicle or vehicle line that the moduleis to be installed into. As can be seen in FIG. 37, a trim portion 364″may be provided for one vehicle line to adapt modular console 350″ tothe vehicle, while a different trim portion 364′″ (shown in phantom inFIG. 37) may be provided to adapt the common modular console for anothervehicle or vehicle line. The particular trim portions may vary dependingon the contours of the headliner or other interior portions of thevehicle, or depending on whether the consol includes or is associatedwith the rearview mirror assembly (such as shown in FIG. 34), or asunroof or moonroof or the like, or other characteristics of the vehicleinterior or the like.

Therefore, the modular console or system of the present inventionprovides common accessory modules or storage modules or sub-modules orthe like that may be assembled together to form the desired console. Thecommon modules or sub-modules may be shipped to a vehicle assembly plantand assembled together in the plant to form the desired modular consolesfor the particular vehicles or vehicle lines. The consoles may then betrimmed out or finished via a particular trim member or portion thatfits along an exterior or perimeter portion of the console and thatconforms to the interior portion of the particular vehicle or vehicleline.

The modular console of the present invention may be particularly suitedfor applications in vehicle assembly plants that assemble different ormultiple car lines. In such applications, the common modules orsub-modules may be assembled to form the desired modular consoles(containing the selected options for particular vehicles) and theappropriate trim portion may be installed to accommodate the interiorcontours or the like of the particular vehicle or vehicle line, and thenthe desired modular consoles may be installed into the particularvehicle or vehicle line. Optionally, the connected modules may beinstalled into the vehicle before the trim portions are attached orinstalled, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Thepresent invention thus reduces the number of different consoles that maybe shipped to the vehicle assembly plant, since the desired console thathas the various options selected for a particular vehicle may beassembled at the vehicle assembly plant using the common modules and theappropriate trim portions.

Referring now to FIGS. 38-41, an accessory module 410 may be positionedgenerally at a windshield 411 of a vehicle and may have or define apocket or receiving portion 412 for connecting to or at least partiallyreceiving a cellular telephone 414 or the like. Accessory module 410 maymount or oppose/engage the interior surface of the windshield and mayinclude a connecting conduit or arm 416 that extends upward from a baseregion 418 to conceal and guide/route the connecting wires and the likebetween the receiving portion 412 and the vehicle wiring or the wiringof an overhead console or the like. Optionally, accessory module 410 maybe connected to or may be incorporated into the overhead accessorysystem of the types discussed above with respect to FIGS. 17-37.

Receiving portion 412 of accessory module 410 is shaped or formed to atleast partially receive the cellular telephone 414 or the like therein,whereby the phone may be stored in a location that may be readilyaccessible to the driver of the vehicle. Receiving portion 412 mayinclude electrical contacts or connectors or the like for contactingcorresponding contacts or connectors of the cellular telephone or thelike that is to be placed into or connected to receiving portion 412.The electrical contacts or connectors of receiving portion 412 may beconnected to the vehicle wiring or overhead accessory system wiringthrough connecting portion 416 of accessory module 410. Accessory module410 thus may function to charge the battery of the cellular telephonewhen the telephone is plugged into or docked at the receiving portion412.

Optionally, the electrical contacts of connectors of accessory module410 may be connected to a vehicle-based or console-based or module-basedaudio communication device or system or microphone system, such as asystem utilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003;6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975; and/or described in PCT Application No.PCT/US03/30877, filed Oct. 1, 2003 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1111(PCT)),which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The connection mayallow the cellular telephone to cooperate with the speakers and/ormicrophones of the vehicle or overhead accessory system or interiorrearview mirror assembly or system, such that the user of the accessorymodule may use the telephone while the telephone is docked at theaccessory module. Optionally, the accessory module may incorporate orinclude such microphones or speakers, such as in the base portion.Optionally, the accessory module may incorporate or include user inputsor buttons or touch/proximity sensors to select/control thecommunication system or the like. The accessory module of the presentinvention thus may connect a cellular telephone or the like to acommunication system, such that the accessory module may provide ahands-free communication system for the driver of the vehicle. Thecellular telephone, which may be carried into the vehicle by a user, maybe coupled to and provide two way communication with the vehicle-basedor in-vehicle communication system, preferably wirelessly, such as via aBluetooth™ protocol or similar short/restricted range radio frequency(RF) or infrared (IR) communication protocol.

As shown in FIGS. 40 and 41, accessory module 410 may be positionedalong the interior surface of the windshield 411 and generally above aninterior rearview mirror assembly 420. Interior rearview mirror assembly420 may comprise any interior rearview mirror assembly, such as aninterior rearview mirror assembly (that may optionally include a videodisplay screen as shown in FIGS. 40 and 41) of the types describedabove, without affecting the scope of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 40, base portion 418 and receiving portion 412 of accessory module410 may be spaced downward from the headliner 422 of the vehicle (orfrom an overhead console or overhead accessory system or the like) toallow clearance for the telephone 414 to be readily inserted and removedfrom the receiving portion 412. The telephone 414 thus may be positionedgenerally above the interior rearview mirror assembly 420 and viewableand readily accessible by a user of the telephone when the telephone isdocked or received at accessory module 410.

Although shown as being positioned along the interior surface of thewindshield and below a headliner or console of the vehicle, it isenvisioned that the accessory module of the present invention may beincorporated into an overhead accessory system of the types describedabove. For example, one of the compartments 60 or controls 62 ofoverhead accessory system 50, described above, may incorporate areceiving portion for receiving a cellular telephone in a similar manneras described above. The overhead accessory system may then include thecircuitry and microphones and speakers to allow the telephone to be usedas part of a hands free communication system.

The accessory module of the present invention thus provides a receivingport or station for receiving or connecting to a telephone to charge thebattery of the telephone and/or to connect the telephone to a hands freecommunication system. The accessory module may be positioned along thewindshield of a vehicle and may be positioned generally at or above theinterior rearview mirror assembly, or the accessory module may bepositioned elsewhere in the vehicle, such as at or incorporated into anoverhead accessory system of the vehicle.

Referring now to FIGS. 42-44, the overhead accessory system may alsoreceive or incorporate vision or image data from a rearward facingimaging system, such as a reverse aid or backup aid or parking system,such as the types described below or the like, with a display system ordisplay module 510 of the vehicle, such as a display module having anentertainment video screen, such as are typically installed inmini-vans, vans, and SUVs and/or the like. The display module 510 may beadjusted or adapted for the driver to view the field of view rearward ofthe vehicle (as captured by the rearward facing imaging system) in theentertainment video screen or other screen of the display module, asdiscussed below.

The rearward facing imaging system may comprise any known rearwardimaging system or back up aid system, or may be suitable for use withother imaging systems of the vehicle or may utilize principles oraspects of such systems, such as a video mirror system, such asdisclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,428,172 and 6,420,975,and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/793,002, filed Feb. 26, 2001 bySchofield et al., entitled VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEMS INCORPORATING ANACCESSORY MODULE (Attorney Docket DON01 P-869); and Ser. No. 09/585,379,filed Jun. 1, 2000 for REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH UTILITY FUNCTIONS(Attorney Docket DON01 P-817); and Ser. No. 10/307,929, filed Dec. 2,2002 by Hutzel et al. for AN INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM INCLUDING APENDENT ACCESSORY (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1052), which are herebyincorporated herein by reference, or an exterior imaging system, such asa forwardly or sidewardly or rearwardly directed vehicle vision systemutilizing a mirror mounted or vehicle mounted camera or sensor andutilizing the principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677;5,670,935; 5,760,962; 5,786,772; 5,798,575; 5,914,815; 5,929,786;5,949,331; 5,959,367; 6,175,164; 6,198,409; 6,201,642; 6,222,447;6,396,397; and/or 6,498,620, and/or in commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/199,907, filed Nov. 25, 1998, entitled WIDEANGLE IMAGE CAPTURE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES (Attorney Docket DON01 P-676);and/or Ser. No. 10/010,862, filed Dec. 6, 2001, entitled PLASTIC LENSSYSTEM FOR VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM (Attorney Docket DON01 P-954), whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, orsuch as a rear vision system and/or camera implemented and operated inconnection with other vehicular systems as well, or operable utilizingthe principles of such other vehicular systems, such as a vehicleheadlamp control system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,796,094, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, a rainsensor, such as the types disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos.6,353,392; 6,313,454; and/or 6,320,176, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference, a traffic sign recognition system, a system fordetermining a distance to a leading vehicle or object, such as byutilizing the principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,397, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference, or other vehicle vision systemsand/or the like.

The rearward facing imaging system may include a rearward facing cameraor imaging sensor 512, such as an imaging array sensor, such as a CMOSsensor or CCD sensor, such as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,550,677; 6,097,023 and 5,796,094, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference, an extended dynamic range camera, such as the typesdisclosed in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/36177, filed Nov. 14, 2003 byDonnelly Corp. et al. for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE (Attorney DocketDON01 FP-1118(PCT)), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference,or any known camera or image sensor or the like. The camera 512 may bepositioned at a rearward portion of the vehicle and directed generallyrearwardly to capture an image of the exterior scene within the field ofview of the camera. The camera 512 may communicate a signalrepresentative of a frame or frames of the captured image of theexterior and rearward scene to a control or control system 514. Thecontrol may process the signal or signals received from the camera andcommunicate image data to the video screen or display of the displaymodule or video screen module 510 for displaying an image representativeof the rearward field of view of the camera at the video screen. Thedisplay module 510 may be configured to extend downwardly from theoverhead accessory system (or may extend downwardly from the ceiling orheadliner or other headliner console of the vehicle) to facilitateviewing of the video screen by the driver of the vehicle, such as whenthe vehicle is being driven in reverse, such as for parking, connectingthe vehicle to a trailer or otherwise backing up the vehicle.

In one form, a video screen or display module may comprise a singlevideo screen at the display module or video screen module. The displaymodule may be configured to rotate approximately 180 degrees between arearward or entertainment position, where the screen is directedgenerally rearwardly and is thus viewable by a passenger or passengersin the rear seats of the vehicle, and a forward or backup aid position,where the screen is directed generally forwardly and is thus viewable bythe driver of the vehicle, either by turning around to directly view thescreen or by viewing a reflection of the screen via the reflectiveelement of the interior rearview mirror assembly. The display module mayalso be pivoted or flipped, such as about a generally horizontal pivotaxis, between a raised or storage position at the ceiling of the vehiclecabin and a lowered or in use position for viewing by the driver or rearpassengers of the vehicle. Optionally, the display module may be tiltedor angled downward to adjust a viewing angle of the display, and may becapable of such tilting or angling or adjusting at any rotationalposition as it is pivoted or rotated between the rearward position andforward position. The display module thus may pivot about a pair of axesto provide adjustment of the display for enhanced viewing.

When in the rearward orientation, the video screen may display movies,games, television shows, videos and the like (such as via a feed orinput from an antenna, DVD player, video player, game system and/or thelike) to the rear passengers, while the video screen may display imagesof the rearward exterior scene (such as via a feed or input from therearward imaging system) to the driver of the vehicle when in theforward facing orientation. Other feeds or inputs to the display modulemay be provided to display other images or information or the like atthe screen of the display module, and may be selectably displayed at thescreen, without affecting the scope of the present invention.Optionally, the display output of the video screen may be selectablycontrolled or adjusted, or may be automatically controlled in responseto the orientation of the display module, without affecting the scope ofthe present invention. For example, the back up aid display function maybe automatically selected in response to the display module beingadjusted to the forward orientation. Therefore, the driver and the rearpassengers of the vehicle may selectably utilize and view the videoscreen or display of the display module of the present invention.

In another form, and as shown in FIGS. 43 and 44A-D, a video screen ordisplay module 510 may comprise a pair of video screens 516, 518packaged back-to-back in a single display module that may flip down fromthe headliner or ceiling or ceiling console of the vehicle cabin. Whenthe display module 510 is flipped downward or lowered to an in useposition, a rearward facing screen 516 of the module may be directedgenerally rearwardly for viewing by the rear passengers of the vehicle,such as for entertainment purposes, while a forward facing screen 518may be directed generally forwardly for viewing by the driver of thevehicle for the backup or reverse aid function. The rearward facingscreen 516 may display images of movies, games, television shows, videosand the like to the rear passengers (such as via a feed or input from anantenna, DVD player, video player, game system and/or the like), whilethe forward facing video screen 518 may display images of the rearwardexterior scene (such as via a feed or input from the rearward imagingsystem) to the driver of the vehicle. Other feeds or inputs to thedisplay module may be provided to display other images or information orthe like at either or both of the screens of the display module, and maybe selectably displayed at either or both of the screens, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the driver of the vehicle may view the forward facing videoscreen 518 directly by turning and facing the screen, or the driver mayview the forward facing video screen indirectly by viewing the screen'sreflection at the reflective element of the interior rearview mirrorassembly 520. It is further envisioned that the control 514 of theimaging system may adjust the display image according to the designedviewing approach for the driver, such as by providing a reverse imagedisplay for viewing at the reflective element of the interior rearviewmirror assembly, such as by utilizing aspects of a reverse imageinformation display of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,647,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The display image onthe screen may thus be displayed as a reversed or mirrored image so thata reflected image of the reversed display image may be properly viewableand readable by the driver at the reflective element of the rearviewmirror. It is further envisioned that the display image may beselectably adjusted depending on the viewing approach preferred by thedriver of the vehicle, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention.

As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 44B and 44D, the display modulemay include one or more user interface controls or buttons 522 foractivating or deactivating the video screen or screens, and/or forselecting the function of one or both of the video screens, such asbetween an entertainment or infotainment setting, such as for viewingprograms, videos, movies, games and/or the like, and a reverse or backupaid or park aid function or setting, such as for viewing the imagecaptured by the rearward facing camera or imaging sensor to assist thedriver in backing up the vehicle. Optionally, the backup aid function ofthe display or video screen may be automatically selected in response tothe vehicle being shifted into reverse or the like, without affectingthe scope of the present invention.

Therefore, a video screen or display module may be provided which isoperable to selectably display entertainment images or the like to therear passengers of the vehicle and rearward viewing images to the driverof the vehicle to assist the driver in driving the vehicle in reverse.The video screen module may comprise a single screen and may be flippedor rotated to adjust the screen between a rearward facing position forviewing by the rear passengers and a forward facing position for viewingby the driver. Optionally, the video screen module may comprise dualvideo screens or displays, where one screen is directed generallyrearwardly for viewing by the rear passengers, while the other screen isdirected generally forwardly for viewing by the driver of the vehicle.The operation of the video screen or screens may be selectablycontrolled by the driver or passenger of the vehicle or may beautomatically controlled, such as in response to an orientation oradjustment of the display module or in response to the vehicle beingshifted into reverse or the like.

Therefore, the present invention provides an overhead accessory systemwhich may comprise a modular system which allows the vehiclemanufacturer to customize the accessory system for the desiredapplication or vehicle. The overhead accessory system may comprise asingle forward cross car console or module, and/or may comprise a middleor center cross car console or module positioned generally at a middleportion of the vehicle, and/or may comprise a rear cross car console ormodule positioned toward a rear portion of the vehicle. The modular andintegrated overhead accessory system allows the vehicle manufacturer toimplement one or more of the modules or console, which may be connectedtogether via longitudinal extending bracing portions or connectors (andmay be electrically connected together via wires or cables or the likeextending along the bracing portions), depending on the desiredapplication and/or the length of the vehicle and/or the like. Theintegrated overhead accessory system of the present invention thussubstantially reduces the manufacturing processes for connectingmultiple accessories to the vehicle wiring because the multipleaccessories of the overhead accessory system or module may be readilyconnected at one of the consoles or modules, while the accessory systemprovides electrical connection to the accessories or electricalcomponents at the other consoles or modules of the accessory system. Theoverhead accessory system may be configured to receive selected ones ofvarious sub-modules and may provide enabling circuitry or controls at asingle module that is operable to interface with and control theaccessories and/or circuitry of the sub-modules that are plugged into orconnected to the accessory console. The accessory system thus mayprovide a common console and common enabling circuitry, whereby thesub-module or sub-modules having the desired accessories or circuitrymay be plugged into the common console and recognized and controlled bythe enabling circuitry.

The present invention also provides a display screen that is slidably ormovably positioned at or within a casing and that may be extendable andoperable in conjunction with one or more systems of the mirror assemblyor accessory module or console or of the vehicle. The display screen mayextend sidewardly or laterally toward the passenger side of the vehiclefrom the casing, such as a mirror casing or windshield electronicsmodule casing or accessory module casing or the like. The display screenmay be linked to such systems to extend and to display information orvideo or the like pertaining to the particular system when that systemis activated or selected. The display screen may automatically extendand activate to display such information or video when a particularsystem is activated, or when a particular condition or location of thevehicle is detected, and may automatically retract when the particularsystem is deactivated or when the particular condition or location ofthe vehicle is cured or completed or passed. The display system thusprovides a dynamic extension and/or retraction system that respondsdynamically to driving conditions and/or traffic conditions and/orvehicle conditions and/or hazardous conditions and/or selected systemsor accessories, and that may extend to alert the driver that there ispertinent information or video being displayed at the display screen,and retract when such information or video is not necessary or desired.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising: acasing; a reflective element, said reflective element having a lengthaxis and a width axis; and a video display screen slidably mounted atsaid casing and slidable in a direction generally parallel to saidlength axis of said reflective element between a non-use position,wherein said video display screen is positioned substantially withinsaid casing, and a use position, wherein said video display screen issubstantially extended from a side of said casing for viewing by anoccupant of the vehicle.
 2. The interior rearview mirror system of claim1, wherein said video display screen is mounted to at least one slidingmember which is slidable relative to said casing.
 3. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein said at least one slidingmember is slidable along or within a sliding block mounted within saidcasing.
 4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein saidvideo display screen is slidable along at least one rail positionedwithin said casing.
 5. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1,wherein said video display screen is substantially extended toward thedriver side of the vehicle in said use position.
 6. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen issubstantially extended toward the passenger side of the vehicle in saiduse position.
 7. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, whereinsaid video display screen is pivotable about a pivot joint when extendedto said use position.
 8. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1,wherein said video display screen is manually movable between saidnon-use position and said use position.
 9. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 8, wherein said video display screen includes a grip orhandle for grasping and pulling said video display screen toward saiduse position.
 10. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1,wherein said video display screen is biased toward one of said useposition and said non-use position.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen isextended and retracted in response to a drive system.
 13. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said drive system comprisesone of a linear actuator, a solenoid device, a rack and pinion device,an electrical drive motor, a non-armature electrical motor, a shapememory alloy device, an electrically induced stress-strain device and abio-material.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The interior rearview mirror system ofclaim 1, wherein said video display screen is extended in response to asignal indicative of an activating event.
 16. (canceled)
 17. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said activatingevent comprises at least one of actuation of a manual input, anengagement of the reverse gear of the vehicle, actuation of a reverseviewing system, actuation of a cabin viewing device, actuation of avideo communication device, actuation of a communication system,detection of a vehicle condition, actuation of a navigation system ofthe vehicle and an approach of a waypoint of a programmed route of anavigation system of the vehicle. 18-19. (canceled)
 20. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said video display screen isretracted to said non-use position in response to a signal indicative ofa deactivating event.
 21. The interior rearview mirror system of claim20, wherein said deactivating event comprises at least one of actuationof a manual input, a disengagement of the reverse gear of the vehicle,deactivation of a reverse viewing system, deactivation of a cabinviewing device, deactivation of a video communication device,deactivation of a communication system, deactivation of a navigationsystem of the vehicle and passing a waypoint of a programmed route of anavigation system of the vehicle.
 22. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 20, wherein at least one of said activating event andsaid deactivating event is manually overridable in response to a manualinput. 23-31. (canceled)
 32. The interior rearview mirror system ofclaim 30 including an accessory console positioned within the vehicle,wherein said accessory console is configured to receive at least oneelectronic sub-module, said at least one electronic sub-module havingelectronic circuitry associated with at least one electronic accessory,said accessory module being configured to connect to enabling circuitrythat interfaces with said electronic circuitry of said at least onesub-module.
 33. An accessory system for a vehicle comprising: anoverhead accessory module positionable along an upper portion of thevehicle; and an interior rearview mirror assembly positionable generallybelow said overhead accessory module, said interior rearview mirrorassembly being electrically connected to said accessory module, saidinterior rearview mirror assembly including: a casing; a reflectiveelement, said reflective element having a length axis and a width axis;and a video display screen slidably mounted at said casing and slidablein a direction generally parallel to said length axis of said reflectiveelement between a non-use position, wherein said video display screen ispositioned substantially within said casing, and a use position, whereinsaid video display screen is substantially extended from a side of saidcasing for viewing by an occupant of the vehicle. 34-57. (canceled) 58.An accessory system for a vehicle comprising: an interior rearviewmirror assembly having a casing and a reflective element, saidreflective element having a length axis and a width axis; and a displayscreen movably mounted at said casing and movable to move between anon-use position, wherein said display screen is not directly viewable,and a use position, wherein said display screen is substantiallyextended from a portion of said mirror assembly for viewing by anoccupant of the vehicle, said display screen being automatically movedto said use position in response to an activating event.
 59. Theaccessory system of claim 58, wherein said display screen is at leastone of pivotably mounted at said casing and slidably mounted at saidcasing.
 60. The accessory system of claim 58, wherein said activatingevent comprises at least one of actuation of a manual input, anengagement of the reverse gear of the vehicle, actuation of a reverseviewing system, actuation of a cabin viewing device, actuation of avideo communication device, actuation of a communication device,detection of a vehicle condition, actuation of a navigation system ofthe vehicle and approach of a waypoint of a programmed route of anavigation system of the vehicle.
 61. The accessory system of claim 58,wherein said video display screen is retracted to said non-use positionin response to a signal indicative of a deactivating event.
 62. Theaccessory system of claim 61, wherein said deactivating event comprisesat least one of actuation of a manual input, a disengagement of thereverse gear of the vehicle, deactivation of a reverse viewing system,deactivation of a cabin viewing device, deactivation of a videocommunication device, deactivation of a communication device,deactivation of a navigation system of the vehicle and passing awaypoint of a programmed route of a navigation system of the vehicle.63. The accessory system of claim 58, wherein said display screen isautomatically movable to said use position in response to multipleactivating events.
 64. The accessory system of claim 63, wherein atleast one of said activating events and said deactivating events ismanually overridable in response to a manual input.
 65. The accessorysystem of claim 58 including a navigation system, said display screenbeing operable to display at least one of instructions, a compassheading, and a map indicative of a selected route output of saidnavigation system.
 66. The accessory system of claim 58, wherein saidactivating event comprises an approach of a waypoint of a selectedroute, said display screen displaying said at least one of aninstruction and a map pertaining to the waypoint to the driver of thevehicle when said lay screen is extended.
 67. The accessory system ofclaim 66, wherein said display screen is retracted after the vehicle haspassed the waypoint.
 68. The accessory system of claim 66, wherein saidnavigation system is selectably operable to set a first activating eventto comprise an approach of a selected waypoint of the selected route.69-86. (canceled)